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Cwenty  ^ms  of  Ifievival  Effort 

IRev.  (5.  B.  IHowarD 

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"He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtleSj 
come  again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him." — Psa.  126:  6. 


A.  W.  Hall,  Publisher, 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
1899. 


COPYRIGHT  BY 
REV.  G.  B.  HOWARD, 
1898. 


Dedication. 


To  My  Wifk: 

For  more  than  forty  years  the  loved  and  loving 
companion  of  my  life;  my  faithful  helper  and  co- 
worker in  the  healthy,  active  and  happy  years  of  my 
public  ministry;  my  constant,  patient  and  affectionate 
nurse  in  the  years  of  my  trial  and  suffering;  and  my 
always  sympathizing  and  true-hearted  wife,  this  book 
is  dedicated  by  her  loving  husband, 

Rev.  G.  B.  Howard. 


Contents. 


Frontispiece  

Introduction   7 

CHAPTER  I. 

Birth.    Ancestry.    Conversion.    Call  to  the  Ministry.  12 
CHAPTER  II. 

Early  Struggles  and  Triumphs   17 

CHAPTER  III. 

First  Revival.     Removal  to  Kansas   24 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Scenes  on  the  Solomon  and  Sappa  Rivers  in  North 

Western  Kansas   28 

CHAPTER  V. 

Orleans  Seminary   33 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Scenes  in  the  South  East.*   38 

CHAPTER  VIL 
Work  Among  the  Wesleyans   43 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Work  Among  the  Wesleyans. — Continued   50 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Unclassified    Revivals   54 

CHAPTER  X. 

Confession  and  Restitution   59 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Remarkable  Conversions   67 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Remarkable  Conversions. — Continued   74 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Mr.  Howard's  Experience.   83 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Notable  Cases  of  Consecration  and  Sanctification   88 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Wonderful  Instances  of  Healing   97 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Marvelous  Answers  to  Prayer   108* 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Touching  Incidents   117 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Other     Incidents   125 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Pointed  Illustrations   181 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Pointed  Illustrations. — Continued  -. .   138 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Pointed  Illustrations. — Concluded   146 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Churches  Dedicated   152 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Freaks  of  Fanaticism.    161 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

As  Viewed  by  Co-Laborers   167 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

As  Viewed  by  Co-Laborers. — Continued   176 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Mr.  Howard's  Sermons   182 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

As  a  Presiding  Officer    197 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Newspaper  Accounts   204 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
The  Wilson,  Kansas,  Revival   210 


Introduction. 

Some  one  has  said  that  ''Biography  is  history  teach- 
ing by  example.''  While  the  following  pages  can 
hardly  be  classed  as  a  book  of  biography,  yet  there 
is  much  contained  in  them  that  serves  to  illustrate  the 
truth  of  the  above  statement.  The  history  of  a  good 
man  and  his  eflorts  to  make  other  people  good  is  in- 
teresting and  edifying  to  every  man  or  woman  who  is 
likewise  engaged.  More  especially  is  this  true  if 
such  person  is  working  to  better  mankind  and  its  con- 
dition by  the  specific  advocacy  and  advancement  of 
that  which  pertains  to  the  kingdom  of  our  blessed 
Lord.  The  following  are  a  few  reasons  why  the  com- 
pilers of  this  volume  think  it  should  be  published  and 
read  by  those  into  whose  hands  it  may  fall. 

I.  The  publication  of  such  a  book  may  have  a 
tendency  to  check  the  circulation  of  books  vicious  in 
their  nature,  and  which  perniciously  poison  the, minds 
and  hearts  of  all  who  peruse  them.  Every  man  and 
woman  noted  to  a  more  or  less  extent  for  deeds  of 
violence  and  crime,  have  their  sinful  practices  herald- 


8 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


ed  far  and  wide  by  means  of  the  printed  page,  in  pa- 
per, song,  and  story,  until  their  deeds  have  become 
familiar  to  almost  every  household  in  the  land.  It  is 
not  with  the  faintest  ray  of  hope  that  the  achievements 
herein  recorded  will  become  a  hundredth  part  as  famil- 
iar to  the  pubHc  as  some  whose  deeds  have  been  un- 
righteous,  but  we  do  sincerely  believe  that  the  acts  of 
such  a  man  as  the  subject  of  this  book  cannot  but 
prove  a  means  of  blessing  to  those  interested ;  and  al- 
so be  a  forcible  checkmate  to  those  not  concerned, 
enabling  them  to  become  so.  Hungry  lambs  will  eat 
poison,  but  if  well  fed  with  nourishing  food,  they  will 
let  the  poison  alone. 

2.  Mr.  Howard  is  growing  old.  While  there  is 
yet  a  prospect  of  many  years  of  usefulness  before  him, 
he  feels,  and  so  do  many  of  his  friends,  that  his  life 
v/ork  is  nearly  accomplished.  Twenty  years  of  con- 
tinuous revival  effort  could  not  be  aught  but  taxing 
on  the  most  robust  physical  frame.  At  any  rate  he 
-vmust  soon  pass  the  way  of  all  the  earth.  He  has 
raised  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters  to 
manhood  and  womanhood.  In  his  self-denying  la- 
bors for  the  Master  he  has  amassed  but  little  of  this 
world's  goods.  He  has  no  earthly  legacy  of  impor- 
tance to  leave  his  children.  He  can  only  leave  them, 
as  he  has  in  this  book,  a  bequest  of  precious  memory.. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


9 


from  the  fact  that  their  father's  hfe  was  spent  in  hon- 
est endeavor  to  help  a  poor  lost  world  find  its  way 
back  to  the  Lord.  Indeed  it  was  at  the  earnest  solici- 
tation,, and  ardent  entreaty  of  some  of  these  children, 
who  have  grown  up  to  honor  their  father's  God,  that 
Mr.  Howard  finally  consented  to  have  the  record 
compiled.  It  is  the  wish  not  only  of  the  compilers, 
but  of  Mr.  Howard  as  well,  that  the  book  may  not 
only  prove  a  precious  legacy  to  his  own  children,  but 
to  the  children  of  many  interested  parents;  and  es- 
pecially to -those  who  are  living  an  idle,  aimless  life, 
and  who  have  no  God,  and  no  hope. 

3.  Another  important  reason  for  the  compilation 
of  this  volume  is  the  sad  fact,  well  known  to  all  spirit- 
ually discerning  people,  that  the  Protestant  church  of 
to-day  is  fast  hastening  to  her  doom,  and  final  wreck 
in  the  mazy  whirlpool  of  formalism.  Who  knows 
what  may  happen  even  in  another  decade,  if  the  church 
hastens  her  destruction  as  rapidly  in  the  next  few 
years,  as  she  has  in  those  of  the  past.  Not  many 
years  hence  it  may  be  said  that  such  a  man  as  Mr. 
Howard  never  lived,  and  his  achievements  handed 
down  to  the  rising  generation  by  tradition  will  be 
called  in  question,  but  if  not,  will  be  considered,  at 
least,  as  deeds  greatly  exaggerated.  But  in  this  vol- 
ume by  the  "art  preservative,''  his  works  will  be  se- 


10 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


cured  to  future  generations  in  verity,  genuineness,  and 
authenticity.  Hence  they  will  prove  to  all  posterity 
that  there  was  a  time  when  God  v/as  on  earth,  when 
he  used  his  servants  in  the  salvation  of  lost  men,  and 
when  the  Lord's  people  enjoyed  his  gracious  and 
constant  presence.  The  book  then  was  written  not 
only  for  the  present  day,  but  for  the  far  off,  uncertain 
future. 

In  compiling  this  volume  we  have  sought  to  be  ac- 
curate. For  the  history  of  circumstances  occurring 
many  years  ago  we  have  been  compelled  to  depend 
largely  upon  the  memory  of  Mr.  Howard  and  his 
saintly  wife.  They  are  each  at  an  age  when  memory 
is  treacherous.  For  this  our  readers  must  make  due 
allowance.  Events  of  more  recent  date,  and  with 
which  some  of  our  readers  are  more  or  less  famihar, 
we  have  tried  to  verify  when  possible.  When  we  had 
no  means  of  verification  we  understated  rather 
than  overstated.  Nothing  has  been  placed  in  this 
book,  but  what  we  believe  to  be  strictly  correct. 
Should  inaccuracies  occur  it  has  been  because  we 
have  had  no  means  of  confirmation,  or  because  we 
have  been  misinformed  by  authorities  supposed  to  be 
reliable.  We  do  not  claim  originality  for  some  of  the 
illustrations  used  by  Mr.  Howard.  They  may  have 
been  used  by  others.    If  so,  it  only  demonstrates  that 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


11 


said  illustrations  are  of  sufficient  importance  to  bear 
repetition.  In  illustration  Mr.  Howard  is  an  adept. 
He  has  few,  if  any,  equals. 

The  compilers  have  tried  to  record  a  simple  recital 
of  events  as  they  have  occurred  in  the  life  of  this 
strangely  successful  man.  We  have  not  written  with 
a  view  to  Hterary  excellence,  but  have  simply  used  our 
best  endeavors,  under  busy  and  somewhat  hasty  cir- 
cumstances, to  faithfully  compile,  narrate,  and  pre- 
sent to  the  public  in  this  form  "Rev.  G.  B.  How^ard's 
Twenty  Years  of  Revival  Effort." 

Yours  in  Jesus'sTove, 

The  Compilers. 


12 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  I. 

BIRTH.  ANCESTRY.   CONVERSION.   CALL  TO  THE  MINISTRY. 

G.  B.  Howard  was  born  near  Bloomington,  Mon- 
roe Co.,  Indiana,  January  15,  1837.  He  lived  there 
until  ten  years  of  age,  when,  with  his  parents,  he 
moved  to  Jefferson  Co.,  Iowa,  settling  near  Fairfield. 
He  was  reared  by  pious  parents,  his  mother  dying 
when  he  was  at  the  age  of  twelve.  The  responsibiHty 
of  the  religious  training  of  four  boys  and  one  girl 
was  now  left  to  the  husband  and  father,  who  lived  to 
a  good  old  age,  and  who,  the  last  twenty  years  of  his 
life,  was  a  class  leader  in  the  Free  Methodist  church. 
The  influence  of  the  holy  life  of  the  mother,  and  the 
wise  counsel  of  the  father  of  young  Mr.  Howard  were 
not  lost,  for  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  was  soundly  con- 
verted to  God  at  a  Methodist  camp-meeting  near 
Fairfield.  His  conversion  was  of  the  old-fashioned 
kind,  radical  and  thorough.  While  shouting  and  prais- 
ing God  many  of  the  saints  said  that  the  Lord  had 
his  hand  upon  him,  and  that  there  must  be  a  work  for 
him  in  the  future.    Indeed  some  said  that  he  began  to 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


preach  that  night,  as,  in  his  new  found  joy  which 
knew  no  bounds,  he  mounted  a  stump  on  the  camp 
ground  and  poured  forth  his  gratitude,  his  testimony, 
and  his  exhortation.  On  the  morning  of  his  conver- 
sion a  rather  amusing  circumstance  occurred,  which, 
while  at  the  time  it  seemed  to  upset  cherished  plans 
and  good  resolutions,  proved  to  be  one  of  the  direct 
influences  that  led  him  to  Christ.  His  father's  house 
was  a  home  for  preachers.  In  that  early  day  Meth- 
odist preachers  walked  with  God.  Many  of  the 
earlier  impressions  stamped  upon  young  Mr.  How- 
ard's life  were  received  from  these  men  of  God  hos- 
pitably entertained  by  his  pious  old  father.  In  his 
father's  yard  was  a  building  in  which  the  preacher  in 
charge  of  that  circuit  lived.  This  preacher  had  a  new 
horse  and  buggy,  and  a  cow.  Young  Mr.  Howard 
was  granted  the  use  of  the  horse  and  buggy  on  con- 
dition he  would  milk  the  cow  while  the  preacher  was 
in  attendance  at  the  camp-meeting.  Young  Mr. 
Hovx^ard  was  quite  willing  to  do  this  as  it  afforded  him 
an  excellent  opportunity  to  drive  the  young  lady,  with 
whom  he  was  keeping  company  and  to  whom  he  was 
engaged,  to  and  from  the  meeting.  He  had  upon  his 
engagement  to  this  young  lady  promised  to  seek  the 
Lord,  as  she  had  repeatedly  informed  him  that  she 
could  not  bear  the  thought  of  marrying  a  man  that 


14 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


was  unsaved.  This  promise  he  made,  not  with  a 
hope  of  winning  the  young  lady's  affection,  for  this 
he  beheved  he  already  had,  but  because  he  had  felt  and 
known  for  some  time  that  it  was  his  duty  to  seek  the 
salvation  of  his  soul.  On  the  first  evening  that  he 
was  to  drive  with  his  intended  to  the  camp  ground 
he  passed  through  a  small  timber  growth.  While 
winding  his  way  among  the  trees  he  came  under  the 
top  of  one  which  had  fallen.  In  this  there  was 
a  large  hornets'  nest.  While  passing  this  tree 
top  some  mischievous  boys  threw  a  club  into  the  hor- 
nets' nest.  Inmiediately  they  came  buzzing  forth  to 
revenge  themselves  upon  their  disturbers.  Instead 
they  settled  upon  the  innocent  horse  and  occupants  of 
the  buggy.  The  horse  in  its  endeavor  to  escape  the 
stings  of  the  hornets  broke  both  thills.  Another 
young  man  in  endeavoring  to  pass  with  a  horse  got 
into  a  similar  dilemma.  His  horse  in  making  frantic 
efforts  to  escape  its  tormentors  backed  into  the  buggy 
driven  by  young  Mr.  Howard  and  mashed  in  a 
wheel.  This  was  more  than  Mr.  Howard  could  en- 
dure, hence  he  began  to  curse  and  swear,  and  manifest 
an  ugly  temper  in  general.  He  was  loud  in  his  blas- 
phemous oaths.  Many  heard  and  saw  all  that  trans- 
pired. The  preacher  had  witnessed  it,  the  pulpit  stand 
being  not  very  far  distant.    He  came  to  the  scene  of 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


15 


conflict.  Young  Mr.  Howard  saw  him  coming  and 
supposed  there  would  be  reproof  and  ill  feelings  for 
what  he  had  done.  But  the  preacher  gently  laid  his. 
hand  upon  Mr.  Howard's  shoulder  and  said,  "That's 
all  right,  we  can  soon  fix  it."  He  manifested  such  a 
kind  spirit  that  it  broke  Mr.  Howard  all  up.  Here 
he  was  in  the  presence  of  his  lady  love  who  had  been 
shocked  and  grieved  at  his  profanity,  the  preacher's 
buggy  broken,  and  some  of  the  bystanders  endeavor- 
ing to  add  to  his  discomfort  by  their  jeers  and  remarks 
about  the  hornets.  Added  to  this  was  all  of  his  good 
resolutions  broken.  He  had  really  intended  to  seek 
the  Lord,  and  was  honestly  endeavoring  to  become 
better.  When  he  saw  the  kind,  gentle  spirit  of  the 
preacher,  and  he  observed  the  young  lady  weep- 
ing, he  resolved  to  seek  salvation  at  any  haz- 
ard. This  he  did  with  results  as  elsewhere  stat- 
ed. That  same  fall  he  married  this  young  lady, 
Miss  Martha  M.  Evans.  A  most  opportune  help- 
meet has  she  proven  to  him  in  all  his  life  as 
a  minister  of  the  gospel.  Shortly  after  his  conversion 
he  lost  the  grace  of  God  from  his  soul,  but  continued 
to  profess  religion,  until,*  observing  the  power  of  a  life* 
hid  with  Christ  in  God  in  others,  he  renewed  his  cove- 
nant with  God  in  the  year  1870.  Again  the  old  call 
to  preach  came  up  for  consideration  and  settlement.. 


16 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


After  about  eight  years  of  bitter  struggling  he  gave  up 
all  his  earthly  prospects,  ambitious  desires,  and  beau- 
tiful home  for  the  humble,  but  exalted  calling  of  the 
gospel*  ministry. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


17 


CHAPTER  II. 

EARLY    STRUGGLES  AND  TRIUMPHS. 

Mr.  Howard's  wife  had  struggled  with  God  and 
prayed  earnestly  for  fifteen  long  years  that  her  hus- 
band might  become  fully  saved  and  enter  the  minis- 
try. Her  devoted  life,  fervent  prayers,  and  untiring 
efforts  prevailed  with  God,  finally  led  him  to  Christ, 
and  later  on  to  gospel  work.  His  home  consisted  of 
i8o  acres  of  fertile  land  just  two  miles  from  South 
English,  Iowa.  There  was  in  addition  to  the  land  a 
comfortable  house,  a  bearing  orchard,  a  beautiful 
maple  grove  of  his  own  planting,  and  many  other 
modern  improvements  which  made  the  place  of  more 
than  ordinary  interest  and  attractiveness.  There 
were  also  about  two  carloads  of  fat  cattle,  nearly  one 
hundred  head  of  fine  hogs,  and  two  or  three  thousand 
bushels  of  corn.  With  all  these  hard  earned  posses- 
sions it  seemed  well  nigh  impossible  to  part.  Mr. 
Howard  had  planned  and  worked  and  built  with  no 
other  end  in  view  than  to  live  and  die  in  this  place.  It 


18 


TWENTY  TEABS  OP 


seemed  .cruel  indeed  to  take  from  him  these  things 
around  which  his  heart's  affection  so  fondly  clung. 
From  a  human  standpoint  but  very  few  would  have 
been  willing  to  make  such  a  sacrifice.  Certainly  not 
Mr.  Howard,  who  was  devoted  to  his  home  and  its 
interests.  His  love  for  it  had  driven  from  his  heart 
the  grace  of  God  and  had  induced  him  again  and 
again  to  put  away  from  him  the  old  conviction  that 
he  ought  to  preach  the  gospel.  His  wife  had  suffi- 
cient spiritual  discernment  to  know  that  he  was  not 
obeying  the  Lord.  Obedience  was  more  to  her  that? 
earthly  prosperity  or  even  the  simplest  comforts  of 
life.  While  her  husband  had  met  with  a  reasonable 
degree  of  prosperity  and  was  in  a  fair  way  to  become, 
if  not  wealthy,  at  least,  an  independent  man,  every 
additional  worldly  gain  was  like  the  keenness  of  a 
knife  penetrating  her  very  soul,  for  she  knew  it  was 
obtained  through  disobedience  to  God,  and,  perhaps, 
at  the  expense  of  lost  souls,  for  whom  she  was  will- 
ing to  give  her  life.  She  often  confronted  her  hus- 
band with  this  matter  and  urged  upon  him  the  neces- 
sity of  performing  his  duty,  but  he  had  tried  so  long- 
to  dismiss  the  subject  from  his  mind  that  he  now  at- 
tempted to  persuade  his  consecrated  wife  that  it  was 
not  the  Lord's  will  for  him  to  preach.  Besides  he  had 
accumulated  so  much  around  him  that  he  could  not 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


19 


now  dispose  of  it.  Finally,  as  a  last  excuse,  he  said 
he  could  not  sell  the  place.  She  allowed  her  husband 
to  put  her  off  with  these  threadbare  excuses,  but  she 
would  not  be  put  off  from  unburdening  her  heart  at  a 
throne  of  grace.  One  day  Mr.  Howard  came  in  from 
the  field  and  heard  his  wife  in  the  barn  praying. 
Among  other  things  he  heard  her  say,  ''Now  Lord,  if 
he  won't  go  any  other  way  take  every  thing  he's  got.'* 
This  alarmed  him.  He  had  faith  in  his  wife  and  be- 
lieved that  God  heard  her  prayers.  An  answer  to  this 
one  was  what  he  feared  and  dreaded.  Finally  she 
came  to  him  and  said,  "Husband,  the  Lord  has  shown 
me  that  you  are  asking  too  much  for  this  place,  and 
that,  if  you  would  take  a  reasonable  price  for  it,  you 
could  find  a  buyer.''  The  secret  was  out  at  last,  it 
having  been  revealed  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  one  of  the 
handmaidens  of  the  Lord.  Mr.  How^ard  saw  she  was 
determined  to  have  victory  by  way  of  the  throne,  and 
that  it  was  useless  to  withstand  any  longer  her  plead- 
ings  and  the  Spirit's  convictions,  so  he  gave  his  con- 
sent to  sell  the  place  at  a  reasonable  figure.  On  the 
third  morning  eifter  Mr.  Howard's  surrender  a  stran- 
ger came  to  his  home.  Immediately  upon  witnessing; 
the  gentleman  the  Spirit  seemed  to  say,  "That's  your 
man — the  man  the  Lord  sent  to  buy  your  place."  "Is 
this  Mr.  Howard?"  inquired  the  stranger.    Being  an- 


20 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


swered  in  the  affirmative,  he  continued,  "I  understand 
you  wish  to  sell  this  place/'  ''Well,  I  have  said  I 
would  sell  it,"  replied  Mr.  Howard  almost  overcome 
with  feelings  which  he  could  not  restrain.  After  as- 
certaining the  price  of  the  farm  the  stranger  requested 
that  he  might  have  until  the  next  day  in  which  to  de- 
cide, as  he  desired  to  look  at  a  piece  of  timber  near 
the  town,  which  belonged  to  the  farm.  He  came  back 
next  day  and  informed  Mr.  Howard  that  he  had  de- 
cided to  take  the  place.  ''How  soon  can  you  give 
possession?"  he  then  asked.  Mr.  Howard  was  having 
an  awful  struggle.  He  seemed  to  care  for  nothing, 
for  he  thought  he  was  a  ruined  man.  He  was  in  al- 
most utter  despair,  so  he  answered,  ''You  may  have 
possession  to-day,  if  you  wish  it."  "Oh,  I'm  in  no 
great  hurry,"  responded  the  stranger,  and  he  took  his 
departure.  Mr.  Howard  was  so  completely  overcome 
by  this  sudden  turn  in  his  afifairs  that  he  would  not 
make  any  efifort  to  dispose  of  his  efifects.  The  people 
having  learned  of  his  selling  his  place,  they  imme- 
diately came  and  bought  his  cattle,  hogs  and  corn. 
He  now  made  a  sale  and  disposed  of  the  remaining 
property  in  his  possession.  All  was  now  gone.  He 
rather  blamed  his  wife  with  all  this  trouble  and  mis- 
fortune, hence  he  turned  to  her  for  counsel  and  ad- 
vice in  this  time  of  need.    "Now  wife,"  said  he» 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


21 


"everything  is  gone,  what  shall  we  do?"  ,''The  Lord 
will  open  the  way/'  she  replied  with  meekness,  and  in 
a  tone  that  indicated  she  beheved  every  word  she  said. 
On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  in  which  he  made  sale 
of  his  personal  property  a  letter  was  brought  him 
from  the  post  office,  postmarked  Rose  Hill,  Iowa. 
On  opening  it  there  was  found  an  invitation  from  the 
Free  Methodist  class  of  the  above  place  to  serve  them 
with  preaching.  The  letter  intimated  that  they  had 
learned  of  the  disposal  of  his  place,  and  of  his  intention 
to  enter  the  ministry.  Rose  Hill  was  sixty  miles  away 
and  how  they  ever  learned  of  his  purpose  he  never 
knew.  They  not  only  gave  him  an  invitation,  but  al- 
so agreed  to  come  after  his  goods,  and  to  furnish  him 
a  house  in  which  to  live.  Mrs.  Howard  was  over- 
joyed, being  confident  that  this  was  an  opening  from 
the  Lord ;  hence  they  immediately  mailed  a  letter  to 
the  class  accepting  their  invitation.  In  due  time  a 
team  was  sent  for  their  goods,  which  consisted  of  a 
few  bed  clothes,  and  other  articles  of  minor  impor- 
tance. He  also  had  a  team  of  driving  ponies  and  a 
buggy.  The  goods  were  soon  loaded  and  started  on 
their  way.  Mr.  Howard  and  his  wife  were  to  soon 
follow  in  their  buggy.  It  was  evening  when  they 
started.  The  sun  was  setting  behind  the  western 
horizon  shedding  its  mellow  rays  of  departing  glory 


22 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


on  a  beautiful,  but,  to  Mr.  Howard,  sad  scene.  After 
going  a  short  distance  tliey  drove  up  a  little  raise  from 
which  they  could  obtain  a  good  view  of  the  old  home- 
stead from  which  Mr.  Howard  was  so  sorrowfully 
parting,  but  from  which  his  wife  was  glad  to  separate, 
because  it  was  for  Jesus's  sake.  Mr.  Howard,  like 
Lot's  wife,  looked  back,  and  the  whole  landscape  in 
one  grand  panorama  was  spread  before  him.  He  could 
behold  at  a  single  glance  the  product  of  his  arduous 
toil.  Here  was  the  old  farm,  just  yonder  the  farm 
house,  beyond  it  the  orchard.  Near  the  orchard  lay 
the  maple  grove  under  the  trees  of  which  in  regular 
rows  the  bee  stands  were  placed.  Look  where  he 
would  his  eyes  fell  upon  some  familiar,  much  loved 
scene  to  which  he  had  been  trying  with  poor  success 
to  say  farewell  diu'ing  the  past  few  weeks.  All  this 
time  his  heart  had  been  filled  with  grief  and  anguish. 
Then  the  devil,  as  if  making  one  last  effort  to  tempt 
him  back  to  this  familiar  spot,  brought  before  his  im- 
agination the  corral  of  fat  cattle,  the  swine,  his  horses, 
and  all  the  domestic  animals  he  had  used  on  the  farm. 
He  stopped  the  ponies,  and,  turning  to  his  wife,  said, 
■^'Now,  wife,  be  honest;  can  you  deep  down  in  your 
heart  say  good  bye  to  all  these  things?'  "Yes,"  she 
replied,  ''I  can."  ''Well,  I  can't,  and  I  won't  go  an- 
other step  until  the  Lord  takes  that  farm  out  of  my 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


23 


heart/'  He  handed  his  wife  the  reins,  got  out  of  the 
buggy,  and  took  to  the  hazel  brush  by  the  road  side. 
He  fell  upon  his  knees  and  pleaded  with  God  to  give 
him  the  victory  over  his  bitter  temptation.  God 
heard  and  answered  his  prayer.  He  arose  from  his 
knees,  waved  his  hat  in  a  hearty  farew^ell  to  the  old 
home,  and  went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 


24 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  III. 

FIRST  REVIVAL.  REMOVAL  TO  KANSAS. 

His  first  revival  was  held  at  Keenersburg,  lowa^ 
just  before  he  left  the  farm.  It  was  a  place  locally 
known  as  ''hell's  half  acre."  The  community  was 
given  over  to  Sabbath  breaking,  gambling,  horse  rac- 
ing, profanity,  and  kindred  evils.  It  was  a  hard  place 
for  a  beginner,  and  one  which  Mr.  Howard,  doubtless, 
would  have  given  up  had  it  not  been  for  the  prayers 
and  entreaties  of  his  devoted  wife.  Her  tears  and 
groans  held  him  at  his  post  of  duty.  Although  these 
initial  efforts  were  feeble,  yet  they  were  greatly  blessed 
of  God,  for  the  slain  of  the  Lord  were  many.  Men 
and  women  could  be  heard  crying  for  mercy  all 
through  the  timber,  in  their  corn  fields,  and  at  their 
homes. 

One  day  while  preaching  his  wife  fell  prostrate  on 
the  ground  and  lay  powerless  in  this  position  about 
two  hours.    All  at  once  a  large,  portly  man  began  to 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


25 


weep  and  cry  for  mercy.  Under  these  conditions  it 
was  not  long  till  he  began  to  shout  and  exclaim,  'Tve 
got  it;  Fve  got  it!''  Immediately  Mr.  Howard's  wife 
was  on  her  feet.  The  two  were  soon  clasping  each 
other's  hands  praising  and  glorifying  God.  This  gave 
the  meeting  a  new  impetus.  The  power  of  the  Lord 
ran  through  the  congregation  like  fire  in  stubble  fully 
dry. 

Another  man  seeing  the  people  falling  and  shout- 
ing, arose,  and  with  clenched  fist,  declared  he  would 
leave  the  meeting.  Under  this  feeling  he  stalked 
away  in  high  dudgeon.  It  was  not  more  than  a  mile 
that  he  had  gone  until  conviction  seized  him.  In- 
stantly he  retraced  his  steps,  calling  upon  God  for 
mercy.  He  was  most  gloriously  saved  on  his  return 
trip,  and  soon  entered  the  meeting  praising  the  Lord. 

About  seventy-five  were  converted  in  this  meet- 
ing. A  Free  Methodist  church  of  forty  members  was 
organized.  This  revival  closed  with  a  quarterly  meet- 
ing held  by  C.  E.  Harroun,  Sr.  The  brother  had 
driven  sixty  miles  in  order  to  reach  this  service  at  the 
appointed  time.  While  there  one  of  his  horses  died. 
Mr.  Howard  had  no  difficulty  in  urging  his  people  to 
purchase  him  another  one  at  once.  The  class  was  all 
aglow  with  gospel  grace,  hence  a  very  liberal  spirit 
was  the  blessed  result.    This  first  revival  and  quarter- 


56 


TWENTY  YEAKS  OF 


ly  meeting  was  by  Divine  grace,  a  glorious  success. 
It  encouraged  Mr.  Howard  to  continue  his  efforts 
with  renewed  fervor  and  zeal. 

When  Air.  Howard  and  his  wife  arrived  at  Rose 
Hill  they  found  every  thing  in  readiness  for  their 
coming.  They  at  once  moved  into  the  house  fur- 
nished for  them  by  the  circuit,  and  began  their  la- 
bors. The  first  meeting  he  held  among  this  people 
was  in  the  Free  Methodist  church  at  Rose  Hill.  This 
was  a  very  good  meeting  in  which  the  Spirit  of  God 
was  graciously  poured  out  upon  the  people. 

Besides  this  meeting  he  held  three  others,  organiz- 
ing churches  at  each  place.  Afterwards  these  were 
formed  into  a  circuit.  The  next  year  this  circuit  was 
divided.  A  part  of  it  was  assigned  to  Mr.  Howard, 
and  the  remainder  to  another  brother.  This  winter 
was  spent  in  revival  work  which  was  greatly  blessed 
-of  God  in  the  salvation  of  lost  souls. 

Some  time  before  this  Mr.  Howard's  two  oldest 
sons  had  moved  to  western  Kansas  with  the  tide  of 
•emigration  which  swept  that  country  about  this 
time.  It  was  new  territory  and  also  a  fruitful  field  for 
evangelistic  work,  hence  he  now  prepared  to  follow 
his  sons  to  Kansas.  He  chartered  a  car,  loaded  his 
household  effects  and  started  for  the  far  west.  The 
■car  containing  his  goods  was  the  first  one  that  ever 


REVIVAL  EFFOUT 


27 


came  into  Logan  with  freight.  No  depot  having  been 
erected  he  was  compelled  to  unload  the  car  upon  an 
embankment  near  the  track.  He  took  a  homestead 
near  the  town  of  Norton.  No  sooner  had  he  become 
settled  in  his  new  home  than  he  again  resumed  his 
evangelistic  labors,  preaching  all  over  North  Western 
Kansas. 

In  the  autum.n  of  1880  he  attended  the  Free  Meth- 
odist conference  held  at  Salem,  Jewell  Co.,  and  was 
given  revival  and  evangelistic  work  by  that  body. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  the  revival  spirit  which 
swept  over  that  section  of  the  country  and  which 
made  many  desert  places  blossom  as  the  rose. 


28 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  IV.  ; 

SCENES  ON  THE  SOLOMON  AND  SAPPA  RIVERS  IN 
NORTH  WESTERN  KANSAS. 

When  Mr.  Howard  attended  the  conference  at 
Salem  he  was  a  comparative  stranger.  The  conference 
was  new  as  was  also  the  country.  The  people  needed 
just  such  a  man  as  the  conference  understood  Mr. 
Howard  to  be.  His  services  were  at  once  in  great 
demand,  yet  he  refused  to  accept  any  position  of 
trust  and  responsibility  at  the  hands  of  the  confer- 
ence, because  he  was  a  stranger  and  untried.  He 
preferred,  and  so  stated  it  to  the  stationing  commit- 
tee, to  select  some  unworked  portion  of  the  country 
in  which  to  prove  himself  worthy  of  responsible  ap- 
pointments. Norton  county  being  his  home  he  chose 
it  as  his  field  of  labor  and  immediately  entered  upon 
the  work. 

Upon  his  return  from  conference  he  held  his  first 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


29 


revival  on  the  Solomon  river  in  a  neighborhood  known 
as  the  Archer  settlement.  Many  were  happily  con- 
verted in  this  meeting.  Among  the  number  was  a 
Roman  Catholic.  The  place  was  speedily  trans- 
formed from  a  hot  bed  of  iniquity  to  a  Bethel  where 
righteousness  reigned  supreme.  A  large  Free  Meth- 
odist church  was  organized  here  with  Father  Archer 
as  leader  and  Cyrus  Archer  as  steward.  The  former 
has  long  since  gone  to  his  glorious  reward,  while  the 
latter  still  lives  to  gather  in  precious  sheaves  for  the 
Master's  garner. 

From  here  he  went  to  a  community  in  the  Dopps 
neighborhood  on  the  Sappa  river.  At  this  meeting 
another  gracious  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  occurred. 
There  were  many  notable  cases  of  God's  power  to 
save,  sanctify,  and  heal.  The  next  summer  Mr.  How- 
ard held  a  meeting  near  the  same  place.  He  now  had 
a  large  tabernacle  which  was  furnished  him  by  the 
■conference.  God  manifested  himself  in  sin-killing  and 
in  great  slaying  power  here.  During  an  afternoon 
service  thirteen  were  counted  lying  prostrate  on  the 
ground  under  the'  Spirit's  power.  Many  would  turn 
pale  as  death  in  their  seats  and  cry  aloud  for  mercy. 
A  class  of  thirty  members  was  organized  with  David 
Dopps  as  leader. 

From  the  scene  of  this  victory  he  went  to  a  place 


30  TWENTY  YEAES  OF 

three  miles  east  of  Logan  where  a  relentless  warfare 
against  sin  was  waged.  It  was  on  the  Solomon  river. 
This  was  reported  to  be  a  very  wicked  community. 
Several  men  had  been  murdered  there,  hence  Mr. 
Howard  was  advised  not  to  attempt  any  services 
among  that  people.  He  felt,  however,  that  God  was 
leading  that  way.  ^ Therefore  he  knew  that  none  dare 
molest  nor  make  afraid.  With  these  assurances  in 
his  soul,  a  glorious  victory  was  anticipated.  He 
found  the  place  about  as  represented.  The  first 
night  there  was  a  good  congregation,  with  unusual  in- 
terest. The  meeting  continued  for  some  time  with  in- 
creasing power.  Vast  numbers  came  weeping  their 
way  to  the  cross  and  were  radically  saved.  It  resulted 
in  the  organization  of  a  strong  class.  The  fire  did  not 
stop  here  but  spread  into  Logan  where  another  class 
was  organized  and  a  beautiful  stone  church  erected. 

His  next  meeting  was  held  among  the  colored  peo- 
ple at  Xicodemus,  Graham  Co.  This  was  a  colony  of 
T,6oo  people.  They  had  been  out  of  bondage  but  a 
short  time,  and  were  very  poor  in  this  world's  goods^ 
Xeither  horses,  cattle,  implements,  nor  any  of  the 
other  facilities  for  gaining  a  livelihood  were  possessed 
by  them.  Notwithstanding  these  disadvantages  they 
received  the  gospel  gladly.  Though  unfortunate 
many  were  made  happy  in  a  Savior's  love.  No  public 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


81 


school  was  near  in  which  this  people  could  educate- 
their  children.  After  this  revival  a  mission  day-school- 
was  estabhshed,  and  a  good  Christian  teacher  put  in 
charge.  Much  interest  was  manifest  in  this  new  de- 
parture of  Christian  work.  Some  of  the  children,, 
ragged  and  barefooted,  walked  five  miles  in  order  to- 
^tend  the  school.  A  good  class  was  organized  here. 

Pleasant  Ridge  now  became  the  scene  of  conflict. 
It  was  ten  miles  north  of  Norton.  This  was  a  sweep- 
ing revival.  Many  were  powerfully  converted,  some 
of  whom  are  to-day  preaching  the  gospel.  Among 
this  number  was  Rev.  O.  P.  Smith  at  whose  house  Mr. 
Howard  often  stopped.  A  Sabbath  school  and  church 
was  organized.  One  day,  shortly  after  this  meeting,, 
a  number  of  these  brethren  came  to  the  home  of  Mr. 
Howard  bringing  with  them  a  bountiful  supply  of 
provisions,  and  many  other  tokens  of  their  apprecia- 
tion of  his  services.  While  at  prayer  the  Holy  Spirit 
was  most  blessedly  poured  out  upon  them,  and  many 
lay  prostrate  for  some  time  under  the  power  of  God.. 
This  people  was  consecrated  even  to  the  last  dollar. 
Although  poor  they  never  permitted  God's  cause  tO' 
suffer.  When  all  seemed  dark  and  no  ray  of  light  ap- 
peared, the  Lord  undertook  for  them  that  they  might 
have  a  way  of  escape.  Hence,  financially  they  were: 
able  to  do  much  for  the  cause  of  Christ. 


^2 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


At  Alma,  Nebraska,  where  his  next  battle  was 
opened,  the  fight  was  of  such  a  nature  as  to  stir  the 
entire  town.  Sinners  were  not  only  made  to  tremble, 
but  cold,  lukewarm  churches  saw  their  undone  con- 
dition. Some  of  their  members  were  brought  to  God, 
while  others  began  to  oppose  the  meetings.  Their  ef- 
forts to  retard  the  work  of  the  Lord  was  fruitless.'  All 
they  accomplished  w^as  their  own  destruction,  while 
those  who  were  alive  spiritually  united  with  the  new 
church  which  was  organized. 

After  this  successful  siege  at  Alma,  he  removed  his 
tabernacle  eight  miles  south  east  to  the  Walnut  river, 
where  a  camp-meeting  was  to  be  held.  *  This  surpassed 
in  real  Holy  Ghost  power  any  meeting  Mr.  Howard 
had  yet  conducted.  Over  one  hundred  were  soundly 
converted  to  God.  There  were  also  many  marvelous 
displays  of  the  Divine  One.  These  were  of  such  a 
character  that  they  will  never  be  forgotten  in  time  or 
eternity  by  those  who  witnessed  them. 

His  next  meeting  was  at  Orleans,  Nebraska,  where 
he  organized  another  church. 

All  these  revivals  were  within  a  radius  of  sixty  miles 
of  Norton.  Thirteen  churches  had  been  organized, 
and  over  four  hundred  received  into  the  Free  Method- 
ist church  in  the  five  years  he  had  labored  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country. 


REYIYAL  EFFORT. 


33 


CHAPTER  V. 

ORLEANS  SEMINARY. 

These  were  bright  days  to  North-west  Kansas.  Mr. 
Howard  had  succeeded  by  the  grace  of  God  in  turn- 
*  ing  the  hearts  of  the  people  from  worldly  matters  to 
things  Divine.  Exhortation  after  exhortation  was 
given  the  people  to  keep  this  revival  spirit  among 
them.  Had  this  advice  been  followed  many  disastrous 
things  which  afterwards  occurred  might  have  been 
avoided. 

It  was  during  the  Logan  camp-meeting  that  a 
proposition  to  build  a  Christian  school  took  definite 
shape.  One  of  this  kind  was  needed.  The  people 
wanted  it,  but  most  of  them  were  poor;  hence  it  was 
considered  a  hazardous  undertaking.  It  had  been  in 
the  mind  of  C.  M.  Damon,  E.  E.  Miller,  and  Mr. 
Howard  to  build  a  large  sod  house,  equip  it  with  first- 
class  furniture  and  use  this  in  a  better  building  when 
they  were  able  to  erect  one.  Sod  was  much  used 
for  building  purposes  in  that  country.    These  breth- 


34 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


ren  thought  by  having  the  whole  country  turn  out  the 
sod  house  could  be  speedily  erected.  These  plans 
were  about  to  be  adopted  when  they  were  interferred 
with  by  a  good  Sister  Dixon,  who  insisted  that  they 
could  and  ought  to  do  better.  She  proposed  to 
abandon  the  sod  house  project  and  erect  a  brick  edi- 
fice. To  demonstrate  her  own  faith  in  the  proposed 
change  she  opened  the  subscription  by  signing  $200 
to  the  school  fund  Mr.  Howard  was  raising  on  the 
camp-ground  at  this  time.  Before  taking  his  seat  he 
had  secured  in  cash  and  good  subscriptions  the  sum  of 
$2,700.  The  citizens  of  Orleans,  Neb.,  had  agreed  to 
give  them  a  college  site  of  twenty  acres  overlooking 
the  town  and  several  hundred  dollars  in  money.  With 
these  evidences  of  God's  approbation  the  building  was 
commenced.  Mr.  Howard  was  chosen  financial  agent 
and  general  manager  of  the  new  enterprise.  He  at 
once  made  a  contract  with  his  brother,  a  bricklayer  by 
trade,  to  superintend  the  masonry  of  the  building. 
Work  upon  the  edifice  was  immediately  begun.  Dur- 
ing the  process  of  its  erection  family  prayers  night  and 
morning  were  to  be  a  part  of  the  program.  Mr. 
Howard's  brother  was  a  good  man,  and  a  steward  in 
the  M.  E.  church,  but  he  shook  his  head  dubiously 
when  this  announcement  was  made,  as  much  as  to 
say  ''that  won't  do."    The  holding  of    prayers  at 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


35 


such  a  busy  time  appeared  to  him  very  unnecessary. 
There  were  at  different  times  from  five  to  twenty 
hands  working  on  the  building  many  of  whom  were 
pilgrims  which  had  subscribed  to  the  building  fund, 
and  were  thus  working  out  their  subscription.  With 
so  large  a  family,  worship  was  always  a  season  of 
great  blessing  and  much  power.  Mr.  Howard's 
brother  being  unaccustomed  to  such  demonstrations 
as  often  occurred  at  these  morning  devotions,  became 
exasperated  and  said,  ''Do  you  suppose  you  will  ever 
get  this  building  up  with  all  this  shouting  and  scream- 
ing for  two  hours  every  morning?''  "The  work  is  the 
Lord's/'  repHed  Mr.  Howard,  ''and  I  must  keep  my 
hands  off."  These  laborers  were  not  only  blessed  at 
family  worship,  but  many  times  aw^ay  up  on  the  build- 
ing the  power  of  God  would  come  upon  them,  and 
they  would  drop  any  tool  that  they  might  be  using  and 
give  vent  to  their  feelings  by  praising  God  aloud.  ^ 
The  hands  and  all  who  were  employed  upon  the 
building  were  boarded  in  a  large  hotel  which  had  beep 
unoccupied  for  some  time,  and  which  had  been  fur- 
nished them  for  this  purpose.  Sister  Dixon  was 
led  to  move  into  the  building  and  assume  entire  charge 
of  this  department  of  the  work.  As  she  entered  upon 
her  duty  she  said,  ''This  is  to  be  a  Christian  school, 
and  run  entirely  for  the  Lord ;  therefore  we  must  de- 


36 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


pend  entirely  upon  the  Lord  for  our  support/'  This 
was  strictly  adherred  to  as  the  following  will  verify. 
One  morning  Sister  Dixon  said  to  Mr.  Howard,  "The 
flour  is  all  gone."  'T  will  order  some,"  said  Mr.  How- 
ard. ''No,  you  need  not  for  the  Lord  has  revealed  to 
me  that  there  will  be  plenty  of  flour  here  in  time  for 
dinner,"  responded  the  sister.  And  sure  enough 
about  eleven  o'clock  a  wagon  load  of  flour  was  driven 
up  to  the  hotel  and  unloaded.  The  man  who  brought 
the  flour  said  he  had  been  convicted  in  the  night  to  get 
up  and  fill  his  sacks  with  wheat,  and  take  the  grist  to 
mill  to  be  ground  into  flour  for  the  hands  working  on 
the  college.  He  lived  twenty-eight  miles  from  Or- 
leans; but  he  heard  the  voice  of  God,  and  obeyed  at 
once.  When  Mr.  Howard's  brother  saw  this  mani- 
festation of  God's  providence,^  he  melted  down  and 
wept  hke  a  child.  Said  he,  'Tf  I  had  such  faith  as  that 
Sister  Dixon  I  would  give  anything.  You  may  go 
ahead  with  your  praying  if  the  building  never  goes 
up." 

The  building  was  begun,  carried  forward,  and 
completed  in  a  perfect  blaze  of  God's  fire.  After  it 
was  completed  there  was  found  to  be  in  the  cellar  of 
the  hotel,  over  and  above  that  which  had  been  used, 
several  barrels  of  syrup  and  sorgum,  several  wagon 
loads  of   potatoes  and    cabbage,  and  a  considerable 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


37 


amount  of  other  produce.  This  was  taken  out  and 
sold  to  the  grocers  of  the  city. 

When  Mr.  Howard  made  his  final  report  as  financial 
agent  (which  was  accepted),  he  turned  over  the  keys 
and  $2,700  in  cash  and  outstanding  subscriptions. 

The  citizens  showed  their  appreciation  of  Mr.  How- 
ard's efforts  to  establish  a  Christian  school  in  their 
midst  by  presenting  him  with  a  handsome  suit  of 
clothes.  A  principal  street  leading  from  the  city  to 
the  Seminary  was  named  "Howard"  street.  The 
Burlington  R.  K.  Co.  gave  him  a  deed  to  one  among 
the  best  resident  lots  in  the  city.  •  The  school  was  a 
benefit  to  the  town,  a  blessing  to  the  church,  and  an 
uplift  to  all,  hence  the  desire  of  the  people  to  do  honor 
to  the  man  who  had  been  instrumental  in  bringing 
about  these  happy  results.  Rev.  C.  M.  Damon,  and 
Rev.  E.  E.  Miller  were  also  closely  connected  with 
the  enterprise,  and  helped  much  in  bringing  it  to  a 
successful  culmination. 


38 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SCENES   IN  THE  SOUTH  EAST. 

Mr.  Howard  felt  that  he  had  been  following  the 
fiery,  c^tidy  pillar  in  all  of  his  arduous  toil  of  the 
past  fivi§ years.  Naturally  a  very  strong  reciprocal  af- 
fection had  arisen  between  him  and  the  people  among 
whom  he  had  labored.  Had  he  consulted  his  own 
feelings  and  been  led  by  his  own  inclinations  in  the 
iHatter,  he  would,  doubtless,  have  remained  in  the 
north-west  and  energetically  prosecuted  his  labors 
there.  But  about  the  time  Orleans  Seminary  had 
been  turned  over  to  the  trustees,  and  placed  in  the 
hands  of  competent  teachers,  the  fiery,  cloudy  pillar 
lifted  from  that  country  and  led  to  fields  entirely  new. 
Providential  openings  indicated  that  the  Lord  would 
have  him  labor  for  a  time  in  south-east  Kansas.  Wm. 
Cooper,  a  consecrated  man  of  means  and  influence, 
voluntarily  assumed  the  responsibility  of  maintaining 
the  first  meeting  he  held  in  that  part  of  the  State.  It 
was  through  the  instrumentality  of  this  brother  that 


EEVIYAL  EFFORT. 


39 


Mr.  Howard  was  induced  to  transfer  his  evangelistic 
labors  to  the  south-east.  His  first  service  was  a 
camp-meeting  held  at  Stanton,  Miami  Co.  God  set 
his  seal  upon  this  revival  by  graciously  visiting  the 
■camp  in  wonderful  power.  He  thus  manifested  his 
approval  in  the  change  just  made.  In  this  new  field 
of  operations  he  preached  the  same  old  glorious  gos- 
pel. It  searched  the  hearts  of  men  till  wrongs  were 
righted,  restitution  made,  many  sinners  brightly  con- 
verted, and  saints  caused  to  rejoice  with  joy  unspeak- 
able and  full  of  glory. 

After  this  meeting  he  conducted  revival  efforts  at 
Greely,  Ossawatomie  and  other  places.  In  these 
services  many  were  saved,  and  the  church  •  strength- 
ened in  might  and  in  power. 

Mr.  Howard  now  moved  his  family  to  Topeka,  and 
conducted  his  first  revival  in  the  capital  city.  He  pitched 
his  tabernacle  in  that  part  of  the  city  known  as  Park- 
dale.  Thousands  of  people  were  in  attendance.  The 
community  was  shaken  from  center  to  circumfer- 
ence by  power  divine.  Wherever  God's  peculiar  pres- 
ence is  felt  there  the  devil  is  sure  to  be.  This  place 
was  no  exception,  for  he  instigated  his  emissaries  to 
complain  to  the  authorities  that  the  meeting  was  a 
public  nuisance,  and  a  disturbance  to  the  peace  of  the 
neighborhood.  •  An  officer  attended  the  meeting  the 


40 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


evening  after  the  complaint  had  been  made.  He 
watched  everything  closely  during  the  service,  and 
then  turned  away  saying  to  the  complainant,  "If  you 
wish  to  tackle  these  people  you  may  do  so.  I  would 
not  know  what  to  do  with  them  if  I  did  arrest  them. 
The  more  you  try  to  stop  them  from  shouting,  the 
louder  and  the  longer  they  will  shout.  If  they  are  an 
annoyance  to  you  the  only  thing  I  know  for  you  to  do 
is  to  move  out  of  the  city.''  From  Parkdale  he  moved 
his  tabernacle  to  the  east  end  of  Sixth  street  bridge. 
Here  immense  crowds  again  attended,  and  much  good 
was  accomplished.  A  large  Free  Methodist  class  was 
organized  and  a  church  building  erected. 

After  the  close  of  this  meeting  he  commenced  a 
campaign  south  and  east  of  Topeka.  His  first  meet- 
ing was  held  in  Osage  City.  The  officials  nicely 
lighted  and  furnished  the  old  skating  rink  in  which  it 
was  to  be  conducted.  ♦  God  visited  the  place  in  much  f 
mercy.  Conviction  was  pungent.  People  would  come 
to  the  altar  screaming  as  though  they  were  sinking  in- 
to hell.  Despite  this  awful  conviction  one  man  was 
determined  to  flee  from  the  meeting.  He  broke  from 
the  tears,  entreaties,  and  groans  of  his  wife,  and 
started  for  his  home.  This  was  about  dusk.  Upon 
passing  a  cemetery  he  declared  the  bodies  of  those 
that  slept  began  to  come  from  their  graves.    The  ef- 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


41 


feet  was  so  terrible  that  in  much  fear  and  great  haste 
he  made  his  way  back  to  the  rink,  screaming,  .''This  is  ' 
my  last  chance  for  glory;  Oh!  pray  for  me."  He 
rushed  to  the  altar  and  in  a  few  minutes  was  gloriously 
saved.  ^He  is  now  upon  the  walls  of  Zion  proclaim- 
ing Jesus  crucified.  Three  others  were  called  from 
this  meeting  into  the  gospel  ministry.  Two  of  them 
are  the  Scott  brothers.  They  are  still  efficient  laborers 
in  the  Master's  vineyard.  ^  The  other  has  passed  to* 
his  eternal  reward.  A  good  class  was  also  organized 
here.  Other  revival  services  were  held  at  Carbondale, 
Argonia,  Neosho  Rapids,  and  Matfield  Green.  The 
one  at  Argonia  might  have  special  mention.  Tt  was  • 
distinguished  for  the  slaying  power  of  the  Lord.  Some- 
of  God's  children  lay  for  hours  under  a  burden  for  lost 
men.  The  groaning  and  pleading  of  the  saints  could: 
be  heard  at  all  hours  of  the  night.  Even  the  unsaved 
would  be  aroused  by  the  Holy  Spirit  and  begin  to  cry 
for  mercy.  The  following  is  illustrative:  -One  night 
after  a  good  meeting  when  all  had  retired  a  lady 
awakened  the  whole  camp  by  her  screaming,  ''It's 
now  or  never."  All  came  rushing  from  their  tents  at 
this  early  hour  in  the  morning — 2  A.  M. — to  see  what 
was  the  matter.  Upon  reaching  the  scene  all  became 
apparent.  The  above  lady,  under  aw^ful  conviction, 
was  struggHng  for  salvation. ,  She  soon  reached  vie- 


42 


TWENTY  YEABS  OF 


tory  and  sprang  to  her  feet  shouting  and  praising  God. 
This  was  the  order  of  things  for  the  remaining  part  of 
the  night.  Here  is  where  Mr.  Howard  first  met  Rev. 
Ira  Putney  who  is  noted  over  Kansas  as  a  power  for 
the  Lord.  He  did  efficient  work  in  the  above  meet- 
ing. 

This  series  was  closed  with  another  meeting  at 
Topeka.  At  this  time  he  dedicated  the  new  Free 
Methodist  church  which  had  just  been  completed. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT 


43 


CHAPTER  VII.  • 

WORK    AMONG  THE  WESLEYANS.  ^ 

Mr.  Howard  had  spent  the  major  part  of  his  re- 
ligions Hfe  in  the  Free  Methodist  church.  For  more 
than  twenty  years  he  had  sought  by  every  means  pos- 
sible to  promote  the  interests  of  this,  the  denomina- 
tion of  his  early  choice.  He  had  served  the  church  a 
iew  times  as  pastor,  but  more  extensively  as  evangel- 
ist. He  was  District  Elder  for  five  consecutive  years. 
In  whatever  capacity  he  labored  God  blessed  his  ef- 
forts. Scores  of  souls  were  saved  or  sanctified,  hun- 
dreds received  into  membership  in  the  church,  many 
•churches  organized,  and  a  number  of  church  buildings 
•erected  and  dedicated  under  his  efficient  ministry. 

In  addition  to  his  active  ministerial  labors  he  was  al- 
so financial  agent  and  president  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  Neosho  Rapids  Seminary. 

Notwithstanding  his  past  association  with,  and  his 
attachment  to,  the  Free  Methodist  church,  he  thought 


44 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


he  now  saw  the  opening  of  a  door  to  wider  fields  of 
usefulness  in  another  denomination.  .-The  conviction 
was  so  clearly  from  the  Lord  for  him  to  change  his 
church  relations  that  he  conferred  not  with  flesh  and 
blood,  but,  on  the  20th  day  of  2^Iay,  1891,  he  united 
with  the  Wesleyan  ^lethodist  church  in  Topeka,  Kan. 
He  served  this  church  as  pastor  until  autumn  of  that 
year  when  he  joined  the  Kansas  Annual  Conference 
at  \'alley  on  his  credentials  from  the  Free  ^Methodist 
church.  At  this  session  he  was  appointed  [Missionary 
evangelist  to  do  revival  work  among  the  churches 
during  the  winter,  and  to  have  charge  of  the  confer- 
ence tabernacle  the  coming  summer.  He  entered  up- 
on his  duties  at  once  holding  his  first  meeting  at  La- 
ban,  [Mitchell  county.  At  this  place  he  remained  two 
weeks.  The  church  was  greatly  revived,  the  commu- 
nity wonderfully  aroused,  and  some  blessedly  saved; 
Ten  were  received  into  church  membership. 

From  Laban  he  went  to  Chapman  Creek,  where  he 
dedicated  a  new  church  building.  ,  This  proved  to  be 
the  crowning  meeting  of  any  yet  held.  It  ran  day 
and  night  in  a  perfect  blaze  of  God's  glory.  Xever 
had  there  been  such  an  awakening  in  the  history  of  the 
community.  Business  was  largely  suspended.  Peo- 
ple attended  the  meetings  for  miles  distant.  The 
house  was  packed  at  the  night  services,  and  filled  in 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


45 


the  day  time.  The  meeting  continued  for  four  weeks, 
a  very  great  blessing  to  the  church  and  communitye 
One  memorable  morning  at  a  day  service  Mr.  How- 
ard undertook  to  preach  from  the  seventeeth  chapter 
of  St.  John.  The  Spirit  of  God  had  fallen  upon  the 
preacher  and  people  so  that  it  was  impossible  to 
preach  and  the  speaker  could  do  nothing  but  weep. 
The  tears  proved  more  ef¥ectual  than  words.  *  A  rush  - 
was  made  for  the  altar,  following  which  was  a  scene 
that  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  witnessed 
it.  Words  are  inadequate  to  give  a  due  description 
of  such  a  glorious  spectacle.  A  number  were  con- 
verted and  fourteen  entered  the  land  of  Beulah. 

^At  this  meeting  the  weather  seemed  to  have  no  ef-' 
feet  upon  the  people.  They  would  come  through  all 
kinds.  Toward  the  close  of  this  revival  Mr.  Howard 
became  much  wearied  in  body.  One  evening  there 
came  up  a  drenching  rain.  He  was  staying  at  a  house 
near  the  church.  During  the  rain  he  made  this  re-** 
mark  to  his  host,  "The  Lord  sent  this  rain  on  purpose 
to  give  me  rest."  Imagine  his  surprise  .when  a  mes- 
senger soon  entered,  although  the  rain  was  falling  in 
torrents,  and  announced  that  the  church  was  filled  with 
people  waiting  for  the  preacher.  >  He  secured  an  um  - 
brella and  repaired  to  the  church  at  once.  He  found 
the  house  full  and  the  services  already  opened  by 


46 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


weeping  penitents  in  all  parts  of  the  building.  The 
meeting  lasted  until  morning.  Eternity  alone  can  re- 
veal the  good  accomplished  that  stormy  night. 

Over  one  hundred  were  brightly  converted  or  sanc- 
tified in  this  revival.  Although  many  were  made  to  re- 
joice in  the  Lord  there  was  a  circumstance  which  oc- 
curred soon  after  the  close  of  this  meeting  that  caused 
a  cloud  of  gloom  and  sadness  to  settle  like  a  pall  up- 
on the  neighborhood.  A  w^ell-known  and  highly-re- 
spected young  man  of  that  locality  was  under  deep 
and  pungent  conviction  during  the  whole  of  this  re- 
vival effort.  He  had  been  personally  sought,  and  en- 
treated by  interested  friends  to  yield,  but  he  refused.. 
The  last  night  of  the  meeting  Mr.  Howard  went  down 
the  aisle  and,  throwing  his  arms  around  the  young 
man's  neck,  said,  TMy  dear  brother,  the  Lord  wants  ^ 
me  to  say  to  you  that  this  will  be  your  last  chance  for 
glory."  "Lll  risk  it,"  he  said.  Mr.  Howard  with 
tearful  eye  and  saddened  tone  tremblingly  took  his 
hand  and  said  "Good-by."  Shortly  afterward  this 
young  man  took  a  revolver  and  blew  out  his  brains. 
He  went  into  eternity  to  meet  the  entreaties  of  his 
friends,  the  tears  shed  in  his  behalf,  the  prayers  offered 
for  his  salvation,  and  a  just  God  who  will  not  be 
mocked.  .  He  ran  the  awful  risk  and  lost  all. 

He  now  located  his  batteries  at  WilHs.    The  co- 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


4r 


horts  of  Satan  began  a  determined  resistance  from  the- 
first,  but  Mr.  Howard,  with  such  a  varied  experience^ 
was  not  Ignorant  of  his  devices.  Through  grace  and 
wisdom  given  him  from  above  he  was  enabled  to  tri- 
umph and  do  the  will  of  God  most  gloriously.  It  was 
a  good  meeting  resulting  in  a  special  blessing  to  the 
church.  While  here  he  was  invited  to  preach  a 
Thanksgiving  sermon.  In  the  course  of  his  remarks 
he  said,  'M  go  into  your  homes  about  here  and  I  see 
everything  is  in  the  finest  order.  Not  a  crevice  in 
your  plastering,  no  smoked,  dingy  or  rain-soaked 
walls,  are  anywhere  beheld.  The  wood  work  is  nice- 
ly painted,  the  windows  decorated  with  large  silk 
curtains,  your  floors  carpeted,  and  everything  in  the 
best  condition.  Then  I  turn  to  your  house  of  wor- 
ship. You  say  it  belongs  to  God.  I  look  at  the  plas- 
tering, it  is  cracked.  In  many  places  it  has  fallen  ofif.. 
Where  there  is  any, at  is  dingy,  smoked  and  rain-soaked. 
I  look  at  the  windows ;  they  are  bare  and  cheerless. 
No  curtains.  No  decorations.  The  wood-work  is  not 
painted,  and  there  is  no  carpet  upon  the  floor.  There 
is  nothing  to  make  God's  house  bright  and  attractive,^, 
while  your  own  houses  are  models  of  neatness.  I  turn 
again  and  weep,  for  my  Jesus  is  a  pauper ;  he  can't  fix. 
his  own  house."  Mr.  Howard  was  much  affected,  and 
the  people  'being  well-to-do,  were,  for  once,  anxious 


48 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


to  have  a  Thanksgiving  sermon  close,  that  they  might 
truly  and  sincerely  make  a  thank  offering  to  the  Lord. 
-At  the  conclusion  of  the  discourse  one  brother  arose 
and  said,  'This  house  must  be  fixed  if  I  have  to  do  it 
myself."  One  after  another  signified  their  intention 
to  contribute  of  their  means  for  the  same  purpose.  Be- 
fore the  service  closed  a  sufficient  amount  was  pledged 
to  repair  the  temple  of  the  Lord  in  a  manner  that 
would  at  least  correspond  with  their  homes.  This  was 
a  good  people  and  God  greatly  blessed  them  in  their 
sacrifices  and  endeavors  to  do  good. 

Wilson  was  the  next  scene  of  conflict.  God's  power 
and  presence  was  displayed  in  an  awe-inspiring  man- 
ner. The  Wesleyans  had  no  place  of  worship  in  the 
town,  so  Mr.  Howard  was  invited  to  occupy  the  M.  E. 
church.  Sinners  trembled,  the  saints  were  burdened, 
and  Zion  brought  forth  sons  and  daughters.  Some 
v/ere  also  healed  of  bodily  infirmities.  Over  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  were  either  converted,  reclaimed, 
or  sanctified.  The  M.  E.  pastor  and  his  wife  en- 
tered the  experience  of  full  salvation.  Their  son  was 
soundly  converted  and  entered  the  gospel  ministry  at 
once.  One  day  the  pastor  of  the  church  said  to  Mr. 
Howard,  VJf  any  one  had  told  me  that  I  was  preaching;^ 
to  seventy-five  of  my  members  who  were  unsaved  I 
w^ould  not  have  believed  it.    But  such  is  the  case.  I 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


49 


have  kept  an  account  and  seventy-five  of  them  have 
been  saved  in  this  meeting.    It  is  alarming!" 

At  North  Branch,  the  place  of  his  next  meeting, 
about  seventy-five  were  saved  or  sanctified.  The 
meetings  were  of  such  interest  that  the  Wesleyan 
church  failed  to  accommodate  those  who  attended, 
and  the  meeting  was  moved  into  the  large  Friends 
church  of  the  village.  All  the  Christian  people  were 
one  in  spirit  and  could  not  be  distinguished  one  from 
the  other  as  they  worked  harmoniously  for  the  salva- 
tion of  the  lost. 

After  this  last  named  revival  Mr.  Howard  held  a 
meeting  at  Grover,  dedicating  a  church  building. 
From  there  he  went  to  Ames  where  the  building  of 
another  house  of  worship  was  inaugurated.  He  now 
m.ade  a  short  campaign  through  Rice  Co.,  holding 
services  at  Alden,  at  the  conference  camp-meeting 
near  Alden,  Sterling,  Little  River,  and  Lyons.  At  the 
last  two  places  he  organized  churches. 


50 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

WOBK    AMONG  THE  WESLEYANS.  CONTINUED. 

Mr.  Howard  had  once  held  a  meeting  in  Texas  with 
such  beneficent  resuUs  that  he  had  been  invited  again 
and  again  to  return  that  he  might  finish  the  good  be- 
gun  work.  A  petition  circulated  and  signed  by  the 
most  prominent  citizens  of  Ennis  was  sent  to  the  Wes- 
leyan  Methodist  and  published.  It  prayed  for  Mr. 
Howard  and  his  workers  to  enter  that  needy  field.  The 
call  was  so  urgent  that  Rev.  J.  H.  Padgett  attended 
the  annual  conference  in  person,  to  secure,  if  possible,. 
Mr.  Howard's  release  from  the  Kansas  Conference 
that  he  might  conduct  a  campaign  for  God  and  souls 
in  this  sunny  south  land.  The  conference  granted 
the  request  for  his  release.  Accompanied  by  his  wife, 
two  daughters,  and  Rev.  L.  Wing,  he  entered  immedi- 
ately his  new  field  of  battle.  He  pitched  the  large 
labernacle,  furnished  him  by  the  Parent  Missionary 
^  Board,  at  Ennis.    This  had  always  been  considered  a 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


51 


hard  place  to  secure  a  congregation,  but  on  the  fourth 
night  of  the  meeting  the  tabernacle  was  filled  with 
people.  A  furniture  dealer  present  arose  and  said,  "If 
the  people  of  Ennis  will  attend  meeting  they  shall  be 
furnished  with  seats."  The  next  day  this  man  brought 
one  hundred  and  fifty  chairs  to  the  tabernacle.  This 
was  still  inadequate,  and  three  hundred  more  were 
added,  all  of  wiiich  failed  to  accommodate  the  vast 
crowds  that  attended  the  services. 

One  night  a  Baptist  minister  who  resided  here,  but 
who  had  been  out  of  the  city  and  was  just  returning, 
saw  the  immense  throngs  going  to  the  services.  Out 
of  curiosity  he  followed  them  and  found  it  led  to  the 
tabernacle.  He  thought  it  was  a  medicine  show  and 
handed  a  man  standing  near  the  door  a  dime.  "Go 
right  in,"  said  the  man,  "this  is  no  show,  but  free  to 
all."  When  he  entered  the  congregation  was  singing, 
"Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul."  *  He  said  afterwards  that* 
the  singing  fell  upon  him  like  peals  of  thunder.  Mr. 
Howard  preached  from  the  parable  of  the  ten  virgins. 
When  he  announced  his  text  and  made  a  few  state- 
ments concerning  it,  this  man  drew  a  Greek  testament 
from  his  pocket  and  began  to  consult  its  pages.  When 
the  sermon  was  finished  he  came  to  the  platform, 
threw  his  arms  around  Mr.  Howard's  neck,  and,  with 
streaming  eyes, ^confessed  that  he  was  without  God's* 


52 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


salvation.  He  was  so  much  exercised  about  his  con- 
dition that  he  soon  wept  his  way  to  the  cross.  He  re- 
ceived the  grace  of  hohness  in  this  same  meeting. 
Some  real  effectual  work  was  accomplished  by  him 
among  the  Wesleyans.  He  was  highly  educated  and 
master  of  seven  different  languages,  H^et  so  humble 
and  Christlike  as  to  be  able  to  tell  the  story  of  the 
cross  in  child-like  simplicity.  A  small  class,  consist- 
ing mostly  of  preachers,  was  organized  at  this  place. 
Among  the  number  was  Rev.  H.  S.  Abbott  and  wife. 

At  Purcell  the  work  was  opened  in  the  M.  E. 
Church,  South.  vSaid  a  pastor  to  Mr.  Howard,  ''Now, 
I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  get  people  converted,  for  if 
there  has  been  a  soul  saved  here  since  Purcell  be- 
came a  city  T  haven't  known  of  it."  There  was  much 
prejudice  on  the  part  of  the  whites  against  the  colored 
people.  They  were  forbidden  to  attend  the  services. 
However,  they  were  so  eager  to  embrace  these  gospel 
privileges, and  the  prejudice  against  them  so  bitter,  that 
arrangements  v/ere  made  whereby  an  overflow  meet- 
ing could  be  held  for  them  in  a  tabernacle  near  the 
church.  The  fire  broke  out  among  them  at  once. 
They  had  such  a  tender  simplicity  about  their  wor- 
ship, such  fervency  in  prayer,  and  such  power  to  charm 
with  song  that  the  white  people  gave  up  their  meet- 
ing and  ran  to  the  tent  where  God  was  pouring  out  his 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


53 


Spirit  upon  the  colored  people.  There  was  a  general 
getting  to  God  both  of  whites  and  blacks,  so  that  the 
only  apparent  distinction  between  them  was  their  dif- 
ference in  color.  A  class  of  twenty  members  was  or- 
ganized here. 

Oklahoma  City  became  the  next  place  of  bom- 
bardment. It  was  found  to  be  a  very  wicked  city. 
Nearly  every  other  door  was  a  saloon,  or  gambling  re- 
sort of  some  kind.  The  church  seemed  to  be  walking 
arm  in  arm  with  the  world.  Notwithstanding  these 
disadvantages  much  good  was  done  and  a  small  class 
organized. 


54 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  IX. 

UNCLASSIFIED  EEYIVALS. 

So  successfully  had  Mr.  Howard's  meetings  been 
conducted  that  their  fame  spread  far  and  wide.  He 
not  only  had  more  calls  than  he  could  possibly  fill 
within  the  bounds  of  his  own  conference,  but  invita- 
tions to  hold  meetings  were  extended  to  him  from 
others.  Responding  to  one  of  these  he  attended  the 
state  camp-meeting  of  the  Dakota  conference.  A  re- 
port of  this  meeting  published  in  the  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist says  of  his  work  and  preaching,  ''Perfect  love  as 
an  experience  was  so  brought  before  us  as  the  ideal 
and  only  satisfactory  way  of  living  for  God,  and  the 
way  of  holiness  made  to  appear  so  beautiful  and  so 
glorious,  that  all  seemed  to  earnestly  desire  to  meas- 
ure up  to  the  standard.  At  the  invitations  the  altar 
was  often  crowded  w^ith  those  seeking  the  blessing.  .  .  . 
leaving  convincing  testimony  that  they  received  what 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


55 


they  were  seeking  for.  Backsliders  confessing  their 
wanderings  were  reclaimed,  and  started  anew  for  the 
kingdom.  A  number  were  converted,  of  which  fact 
they  gave  unmistakable  evidence  in  their  counte- 
nances and  expressions.  One  thing  noticeable  in  Mr. 
Howard  is  his  faculty  of  presenting  the  gospel,  and 
lifting  up  Jesus  in  his  loveliness,  compassion,  and 
saving  power,  and  keeping  himself  hid  back  of  the 
scene.  The  meetings  increased  in  interest  and 
spiritual  power  from  first  to  last  Our  broth- 
er presented  the  strong,  cutting  truths  of  the 
gospel  with  such  manifest  love,  and  burning  de- 
sire for  souls,  mingled  with  the  supernatural,  that  all 
felt  what  he  said  was  truth,  and,  we  are  told,  that 
some  who  had  been  heretofore  skeptical,  acknowl- 
edged that  they  now  believe  that  there  is  reality  in  this 
religion.  Some  giving  heed  to  God's  Word  and  to 
the  enlightenment  of  the  Holy  Spirit  laid  aside  their 
gold  rin^s."  About  one  hundred  were  converted,  re- 
claimed, or  sanctified  during  this  meeting.  It  re- 
sulted in  great  good  and  was  a  means  of  much  en- 
couragement to  the  Dakota  brethren. 

Mr.  Howard  was  elected  one  of  the  ministerial  dele- 
gates to  the  General  Conference  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Connection  (or  Church)  of  America  in  the 
fall  of  1895.    At  this  gathering  he  became  acquainted 


56 


TWEXXr  YEARS  OF 


with  some  of  the  brethren  from  the  East  who  were 
very  tirgent  in  their  soHcitations  to  have  him  visit  their 
locaHty  and  do  revival  work  among  them.  He  finally 
yielded  to  their  entreaties  and  went  to  Xew  York  state 
engaging  in  a  first  eltort  at  Xewcombe.  The  pastor 
of  this  chnreh,  and  the  man  who  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  persuading  ]Mr.  Howard  to  go  to  Xew 
York,  received  the  blessing  of  full  salvation  in  this 
service.  A  new  chiu-ch  building  had  been  erected 
liere,  which  I\lr.  Howard  dedicated  to  God  the  last 
Sabbath  of  his  stay  in  Xew  York.  From  Xewcombe 
he  went  to  Long  Lake  fifteen  miles  distant,  and  held 
another  meeting.  It  was  hard  pulling  for  a  time,  but 
God  gave  the  victory.  Chiuxh  members  began  to  get 
right  with  God,  confessions  and  restitutions  were 
made,  and  sinners  cried  for  mercy  and  were  gloriously 
saved.  About  one  hundred  were  either  justified  or 
sanctified  wholly  at  these  two  revivals. 

]\Ir.  Howard  while  residing  at  Lawrence,  Kansas, 
had,  in  company  with  his  wife,  been  paying  a  visit  to 
his  sons  living  in  Xorton  cotmty.  On  their  return 
they  encountered  at  Red  Cloud,  Xebraska,  the  sever- 
est blizzard  of  the  season  ;  and,  in  fact.  ]\Ir.  Howard 
afterwards  declared  that  it  was  the  worst  he  ever  saw. 
In  low  places  the  snow  was  drifted  as  high  as  the 
telegraph  poles,  and  the  atmosphere  was  biting  cold. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


5^7 


Travel  was  impossible.  His,  with  two  other  passen- 
ger trains,  was  blockaded  here  for  three  days.  On 
Sabbath  morning  a  number  of  passengers,  with  ban- 
jos and  fiddles,  were  seeking  to  entertain  them- 
selves with  music,  and  also  by  dancing  in  the  aisle  of 
one  of  the  coaches.  The  Spirit  of  God  came  upon  Mr. 
Howard  and  he  said  to  his  wife,  "T  must  hold  up  my 
Jesus  here."  "By  all  means,''  said  his  wife,"  if  the 
Lord  wants  you  to  do  so."  At  this  juncture  a  police- 
man entered  and  accosted  him  thus:  "You  are  a 
minister,  are  you  not?  Would  you  like  to  preach  to- 
this  people  to-day?"  "Yes,  I  would,"  replied  Mr. 
Howard.  "When  will  you  be  ready?"  queried  the 
policeman.  ''Any  time  inside  of  three  minutes,"  he 
responded,  and  was  on  his  feet  in  an  instant.  As  he 
began  to  preach  the  people  were  soon  all  attention, 
and  conviction  deep  and  pungent  fastened  upon  many 
hearts.  The  policeman  fell  upon  his  knees  in  the  aisle 
and  began  to  cry  for  mercy.  The  Lord  saved  him  up- 
on the  spot.  He  put  his  arms  around  Mr.  Howard's 
neck,  and,  weeping,  said,  ''This  is  the  kind  of  religion 
my  mother  had  forty  years  ago.  I  thought  it  was  all 
gone,  and  possessed  by  none  any  more ;  but  this  is  the 
same  kind."  The  excitement  inside  had  become  so- 
intense  that  the  people  came  up  to  the  car  and  began 
to  scratch  the  frost  from  the  window^s  that  they  might 

\ 


-58 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


get  a  peep  within.  Presently  the  proprietor  of  the 
large  railroad  hotel  came  to  a  window  and  requested 
the  people  to  bring  that  man  into  the  hotel.  It  was 
■done,  and  as  Mr.  Howard  began  to  tell  how  God 
saved  him,  and  what  he  had  done  for  him,  strong- 
hearted  men  and  women  began  to  weep.  Among 
them  was  the  hotel  keeper.  A  genuine,  old-fashioned 
revival  broke  out.  The  citizens  of  the  place  offered 
him  the  best  and  the  largest  church  in  town  if  he  would 
only  stay  and  hold  a  meeting.  They  did  make  an  ap- 
pointment for  him  to  preach  that  afternoon,  but  before 
the  hour  arrived  the  train  pulled  out.  Being  District 
Elder  that  year,  and  having  his  Quarterly  Meeting  ap- 
pointments made,  he  could  not  remain,  but  tele- 
graphed a  good  brother  at  Orleans  to  come  down  and 
take  care  of  the  revival  which  had  broken  out.  He 
had  been  at  the  hotel  for  three  days.  When  he  talked 
of  settling  the  landlord  refused  to  accept  a  penny. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


59 


CHAPTER  X. 

CONFESSION    AND  RESTITUTION. 

"He  that  covereth  his  sins  shall  not  prosper;  but 
Avhoso  confesseth  his  sins  and  forsaketh  them  shall 
Tiave  mercy."  "If  we  confess  our  sins  he  is  faithful 
and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins." 

Confession  was  a  leading  feature  of  Mr.  Howard's 
personal  dealing  with  souls  who  came  under  his  pri- 
vate or  public  instruction.  In  such  a  nature  as  his 
there  is  no  com.promise.  He  insisted  on  people  mak- 
ing things  right  with  God  and  their  fellow  man.  He 
kindly,  patiently,  and  persistently  besought  penitents, 
and  others  inquiring  the  wav  to  confess  to  Almighty 
God,  to  individuals  who  had  been  wronged,  and  fre- 
quently people  were  held  to  the  line  of  making  public 
confession  where  public  wrongs  had  been  practiced. 
What  may  have  appeared  to  some  of  Mr.  Howard's 
brethren  as  a  compromising  attitude  was  only  a  heav- 
en-born wisdom,  that  enabled  him  to  adjust  time,  peo- 


60 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


pie,  and  circumstances  in  such  a  way,  and  to  such  an 
extent  that  many  more  souls  were  reached  and  bene- 
fited than  otherwise  could  have  been  possible.  His 
whole  life  was  a  living  example  of  Pauline  economy  to 
become  all  things  to  all  men  that  he  might  win  some. 
His  conciliatory  methods  did  not,  sometimes,  meet  the 
approbation  of  his  brethren,  but  wtre  nearly  always- 
successful.  Such  measures  are  not  always  compro- 
mises, but  often  will  disarm  prejudice  and  bring  the 
seeker  to  a  point  of  surrender  quicker  than  a  more 
radical  method.  One  overwhelming  proof  of  this  is 
the  number  of  people  who  are  brought  to  confess  pub- 
licly and  privately  under  his  ministry.  Many  of  these 
cases  may  be  considered  by  some  as  examples  of 
over-estimated  literalism  ;  also  w^here  insisted  upon 
and  practiced  as  productive  of  more  harm  than  good,, 
but  Zaccheus  came  over  the  road  of  repentance,  con- 
fession and  restitution.  Hence  Mr.  Howard  was 
never  willing  to  allow  any'  one  to  deceive  themselves 
into  a  belief  that  they  could  get  through  any  cheaper 
than  did  Zaccheus  of  old.  The  following  incidents- 
will  clearly  illustrate  the  above: 

Stealing  a  Pair  of  Boots. 
A  man  at  a  camp-meeting  in  Miami  county,  Kan- 
sas, confessed  publicly  that  he  had  stolen  a  pair  of 
boots  from  the  front  of  a  store  where  they  had  been 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


61 


hanging  for  a  sign.  He  promised  the  Lord  that  the 
first  opportunity  which  presented  itseh  he  would 
make  it  right.  While  making  this  confession  he  was 
most  gloriously  saved. 

Stealing  a  Ribbon. 

In  this  same  meeting  a  sister  who  had  been  having 
a  hard  struggle  at  the  altar  arose  and  said  to  the  con- 
gregation, ''Do  you  see  this  long  ribbon  hanging 
from  my  neck?  One  day  I  was  in  a  millinery  store, 
and,  being  well  acquainted  with  the  proprietress  she 
asked  me  to  take  charge  of  the  store  while  she  went 
to  dinner.  While  she  was  gone  I  stole  this  ribbon. 
Every  time  I  attempt  to  pray  it  comes  up  before  me. 
If  God  permits  me  to  live  till  I  see  the  woman  I  will 
not  only  make  restitution,  but  ask  her  forgiveness  for 
the  wrong  I  have  committed."  God  saw  she  was 
honest,  and  while  yet  making  the  confession  he  set 
her  captive  soul  free. 

Stealing  a  Hog. 

Another  interesting  case  in  this  meeting  was  of  a 
man  who  had  been  seeking  the  Lord  for  some  time, 
but  without  any  apparent  results.  Finally  he  made  a 
confession  about  as  follows:  "It's  no  use  for  me  to 
seek  God  until  I  confess  out.  I  sold  a  lot  of  hogs  one 
day  and  delivered  them.  That  night  one  of  them 
broke  out  of  the  pen  and  came  back  to  my  place.  I 


62 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


turned  it  into  a  pen  with  a  lot  of  other  hogs  I  was. 
fattening  for  the  market.  When  I  disposed  of  this- 
second  bunch  I.  sold  along  with  them  the  hog  of 
which  I  had  previously  made  sale.  In  short  I  stole  the 
hog.  This  I  must  restore.  I  dare  not  allow  such  a 
thing  to  come  between  me  and  my  God.  I  will  make 
it  right  if  it  takes  me  to  the  penitentiary."  He  immedi- 
ately found  a  rich  experience. 

Defrauding  the  County. 

Brother  Wm.  Cooper,  who  was  largely  instrumental 
in  securing  Mr.  Howard's  services  for  the  Stanton 
meeting,  and  who  personally  bore  all  of  its  expenses,, 
besides  assuming  many  other  responsibilities,  was  a 
man  of  means  and  wide  influence.  But  with  many 
others,  when  weighed  in  the  balances,  he  was  found 
wanting.  In  a  public  confession  he  said,  "I  want  to 
meet  you  in  the  good  w^orld,  hence  I  must  make  this 
statement.  When  I  w^as  giving  in  my  property  last 
year  I  kept  back  enough  to  amount  to  sixty  dollars- 
in  taxes.  The  first  time  I  am  in  town  this  amount  will 
be  paid,  and  I  will  beg  pardon  of  the  authorities  for 
my  sinful  neglect."  This  he  did  early  the  next  morn- 
ing for  which  he  was  richly  rewarded  of  the  Lord. 
Robbing  a  Man  of  $500  in  a  Cattle  Deal. 

Another  case  which  came  under  Mr.  Howard's  min- 
istry was  of  a  man  who  had  robbed  another  of  $500.00 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


6a 


in  a  cattle  deal.  He  promised  God  and  the  people 
that  he  would  repay  the  amount  with  interest  from  the 
time  the  trade  was  effected.  God  took  him  at  his 
word  and  gloriously  saved  him.  He  at  once  sought 
the  person  wronged,  confessed  to  him  the  deed,  repaid 
the  money,  and  asked  his  forgiveness.  The  event 
proved  to  be  a  savour  of  life  unto  the  unsaved  man,  in 
that  it  reached  and  tendered  his  heart.  Said  he,  ''It 
the  religion  of  Jesus  can  do  this  for  a  man.;  I  want  it.'' 
Thus  we  see  how  two  individuals  wxre  made  new 
creatures  in  Christ  through  one  person's  determina- 
tion to  be  right  with  God  and  his  fellow  men.  These 
cheering  results  will  always  happen  when  the  Lord's 
will  is  carefully  followed. 

Money  Stolen. 
In  the  meeting  at  Oklahoma  City  a  man  made  a 
public  confession  about  as  follows:  "Eleven  years  ago- 
1  stole  some  money.  To-night  while  the  brother  was 
preaching  I  saw  that  it  was  confession  or  hell  fire. 
If  God  will  forgive  me  I  will  pay  it  back  with  interest 
from  date  of  theft."  True  to  his  promise  he  went 
the  next  morning  to  the  bank  and  drew  a  little  less 
than  one  hundred  dollars.  Having  written  a  full  ex- 
planation of  the  matter  he  placed  it,  with  the  money, 
in  an  envelope.  He  concluded  his  letter  with  this 
humble  request,  "God  has  forgiven  me,  and  I  desire. 


64 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


you  to  do  so."  This  was  mailed,  in  the  presence  of 
Mr.  Howard,  to  the  aggrieved  party.  The  man  not 
only  freely  forgave  the  confessor,  but  asked  an  inter- 
est in  his  prayers  as  well.  While  making  his  confes- 
sion the  man  was  unusually  blessed. 

A  Cow  Killed. 

During  the  meeting  at  Long  Lake,  N.  Y.,  a  good 
brother  confessed  that  he  had  killed  his  neighbor's 
cow.  The  animal  had  been  breaking  into  his  field, 
and  thus  caused  him  untold  annoyance.  Having  ex- 
nausted  his  patience  in  the  attempt  to  prevent  the 
breachy  character  of  the  beast  his  carnal  nature  insti- 
gated the  deed  so  bitterly  regretted.  No  one  knew 
who  had  committed  this  act,  but  God.  Under  the 
searching  light  of  the  gospel  as  preached  by  Mr.  How- 
ard in  this  revival  he  saw  that  the  only  means  of  relief 
was  by  restitution.  This  he  made.  God  rewarded 
him  with  a  rich  experience  for  his  honesty. 

Defrauding  the  Government. 

At  Beaver  City,  Nebraska,  while  the  Spirit  of  God 
was  being  poured  out  upon  the  people,  and  awful  con- 
viction taking  hold  of  their  hearts,  there  was  one 
man  who  arose  with  his  face  as  pale  as  death,  and  cold 
sweat  standing  on  his  brow.  TrembHngly  he  made 
the  following  statement,  ''I  suppose  I  will  be  sent  to 
the  penitentiary  for    what  I  must  now  say,  but  the 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


65 


salvation  of  my  soul  depends  upon  my  making  this 
confession.  I  came  to  this  country  at  an  early  day 
and  took  the  place  where  I  now  reside  as  a  homestead. 
To  do  so  I  was  required  to  swear  I  was  of  age.  At 
that  time  I  was  not.  I  perjured  myself  to  the  govern- 
ment. As  you  see  I  have  surroundecl  myself  with 
every  improvement  heart  could  wish.  I  now  have  no 
home.  I  throw  it  all  back  to  the  government."  Hav- 
ing unburdened  his  soul,  he  was  completely  overcome 
Avith  sorrow,  and  repentance.  Just  then  the  Lord 
came  into  his  heart  in  great  power,  and  he  was  soundly 
converted.  In  the  confession  and  excitement  which 
followed  a  suggestion  was  made  that  the  claim  might 
be  contested.  A  large  double-fisted  man  in  the  con- 
gregation was  very  much  incensed  at  the  simple  sug- 
gestion of  a  contest.  He  said,  'Tf  any  man  at- 
tempts to  jump  that  claim  he  must  do  so  at 
the  peril  of  his  life.  I  will  stand  by  any  man 
to  the  very  last  who  will  make  the  confession 
this  man  has  that  he  might  save  his  soul." 
The  matter  rested  here  until  an  arrangement  had  been 
entered  into  with  the  government  whereby  the  man 
was  permitted  to  retain  his  home.  Being  true  to  God 
and  an  enlightened  conscience,  he  lost  nothing  but 
g-ained  all — a  clear  conscience,  an  earthly  home,  and 
a  title  to  a  mansion  beyond  the  skies.    The  begin- 


66 


TWENTY  YEABS  OF 


ning  is  crucifying,  but  the  ending  eternal  triumph. 
Its  practice  bears  rich  fruitage,  but  any  neglect,  a  fear- 
ful doom.  Peace  and  rest  are  in  its  wake,  with  de- 
spair as  a  result  of  its  absence.  ''If  the  wicked  restore 
the  pledge,  give  again  that  he  had  robbed,  walk  in  the 
statutes  of  life,  without  committing  iniquity;  he  shall 
surely  live,  he  shall  not  die.''    Ezek.  33:15. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


67 


CHAPTER  XI. 

REMARKABLE  CONVERSIONS 

It  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  a  man  who  had  beert 
instrumental  in  the  hands  of  God  of  bringing  thou- 
sands of  poor  lost  sinners  to  the  Lord  should  witness 
many  cases  remarkable  in  their  nature.  In  this  chap- 
ter we  give  an  account  of  some  of  these  conver- 
sions. Not  because  they  were  more  remarkable 
than  many  others  which  happened  under  his 
ministry,  but  because  they  furnish  a  fair  sample 
of  many  that  might  be  cited,  and  at  the  same 
time  illustrate  Mr.  Howard's  method  of  leading 
men  to  Christ.  Some  are  remarkable  because 
of  the  circumstances  surrounding  them ;  others  be- 
cause of  unique  or  amusing  features  connected  there- 
with, and  still  others  because  of  the  depths  of  sin  in- 
to which  the  individuals  had  fallen.  They  portray  old 
time  conviction  w^hen  the  sinner  could  not  perform 
his  routine  of  daily  duty  the  sense  and  weight  of  his 
lost  condition  bore  down  upon  him  so  heavily ;  they 


68  TWENTY  YEARS  OF 

reveal  a  Godly  ''sorrow  that  worketh  repentance  un- 
to salvation  not  to  be  repented  of,"  and  they  also  evi- 
dence a  radical  deliverance  from  sin  according  to  the 
Bible  standard,  with  the  rich  experiences  obtained 
therefrom,  Oh  that  they  may  encourage  us  to  fol- 
low very  closely  our  blessed  Lord  and  thus  retain 
among  us  that  type  of  Apostolic  piety,  which,  though 
so  essential  to  present  and  future  happiness  in  its  pure 
sense,  is  being  put  to  one  side  for  worldliness,  formal- 
ity and  spiritual  death. 

A  Notorious  Drunkard  at  Oklahoma  City. 
In  a  sermon  at  Oklahoma  City  Mr.  Howard  made 
the  remark  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  could  save  any 
m_an  this  side  of  hell  if  the  Spirit  of  God  had  not  taken 
its  flight.  A  man  in  the  congregation  immediately 
arose  and  started  up  the  aisle  toward  the  platform. 
Mr.  Howard  did  not  need  to  look  twice  to  see  that  the 
man  was  a  blear-eyed,  drunken  sot  who  could  scarce- 
ly control  his  shattered  nerves  as  he  shambled  up  the 
aisle.  On  reaching  the  platform  he  requested  per- 
mission to  speak.  Said  he,  ''If  what  this  man  said  is 
true,  there  may  be  hope  for  me.  I  have  tried  the 
Keeley  Cure  and  failed.  If  God  don't  save  me  I  am 
gone."  He  knelt  at  the  altar.  The  Lord  Jesus  soon 
appeared  speaking  peace  to  his  soul,  and  setting  him 
at  liberty.    He  praised  God  both  by  voice  and  action  ^ 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


69 


for  the  great  deliverance  wrought.  The  news  soon 
spread  through  the  city  that  this  man,  noted  for  his 
drunkenness  and  revelry,  had  been  converted.  His 
companions  in  sin  rushed  to  the  tabernacle  to  behold 
the  transformation  which  God  had  wrought.  With 
a  voice  full  of  feeling  and  eyes  moist  with  tears  he  told 
them  that  he  had  forsaken  sin  with  all  its  associations 
for  the  humble  way  that  led  to  glory.  He  exhorted 
them  to  repent  and  accompany  him.  At  times  there 
was  an  expression  of  sadness  on  his  countenance  piti- 
ful to  behold.  This  always  came  when  he  thought  of 
his  broken-hearted  wife.  .  'Toor  wife!''  he  would  ex-^ 
claim,  ''she  died  with  a  broken  heart.  I  would  give 
worlds,  had  I  them,  if  she  were  here  to  rejoice  with 
me.''  The  vast  congregation  was  moved  to  tears 
again  and  again  as  they  looked  upon  and  listened  to 
this  standing  monument  of  God's  amazing  grace.  Mr. 
Howard  asked  all  who  wished  him  well  to  rise.  En 
masse  they  came  to  their  feet,  for  they  could  not  but 
say  that  a  notable  miracle  had  been  performed  there 
that  day. 

A  Colored  Brother  in  the  Water. 
While  holding  a  meeting  among  the  colored  people 
atNicodemus,  Graham  county,  Kansas,  many  of  them 
were  powerfully  wrought  upon  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 
One  brother  to  w^hom  God  had  been  talking  went 


70 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


down  to  the  Solomon  river  about  dusk  in  the  even- 
ing to  get  a  pail  of  water.  As  he  stooped  to  dip  it  up 
from  the  stream,  he  thought  he  saw  Jesus  walking  to- 
ward him  upon  the  water.  He  dropped  his  pail, 
plunged  into  the  river,  and  started  to  meet  his  Lord. 
As  he  went  he  cried  for  mercy.  When  about  midway 
of  the  stream  God  blessedly  saved  him.  Leaping, 
:shouting  and  praising  the  Lord,  he  came  back  to  the 
tabernacle  a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus.  Looking 
ior  his  Savior  he  found  him.  Possibly  not  as  expect- 
ed, but  just  as  real. 

His  Host's  Son-in-law. 
During  the  great  Chapman  Creek  meeting  in  Clay 
county,  Kansas,  Mr.  Howard  was  making  his  home 
with  a  good  brother  who  had  an  unsaved  son-in-law 
living  several  miles  from  the  place  where  the  revival 
was  being  held.  Mr.  Howard  became  burdened  for 
him  and  could  not  sleep.  At  midnight  he  arose, 
awakened  the  family,  and  told  them  of  his  burden  of 
soul.  Said  he  to  his  host,  ''If  you  will  go  or  send  af- 
ter C  and  get  him  to  come  to  the  meeting  he 

will  be  saved  to-day."  His  efforts  to  secure  some  one 
to  go  were  unavailing  at  first.  At  the  breakfast  hour 
a  young  man  happened  in  who  was  going  by  the  home 
of  the  person  Mr.  Howard  wished  to  send  for.  He 
was  asked  to  stop  a  few  minutes  and  urge  the  man 


EEVIYAL  EFFORT. 


71 


to  come  to  the  meeting  that  day.  The  messenger  up- 
on arriving  at  the  place  found  the  son-in-law  in  the 
cow  shed  earnestly  seeking  the  Lord.  He  did  not 
need  a  second  invitation  to  attend  the  services,  but 
started  for  the  church  at  once.  When  he  reached  the 
house  of  God  Mr.  Howard  was  inviting  seekers  to  the 
altar.  He  rushed  into  the  house  and  toward  the  altar 
without  the  least  delay.  God  in  much  mercy  converted 
his  soul  before  he  reached  it.  His  wife  was  also  con- 
verted during  this  meeting.  The  travailing  of  Zion 
results  in  healthy  spiritual  children.  It  is  the  pre- 
rogative of  God  to  bestow  it  upon  whom  he  will. 
Perfect  obedience  makes  its  bestowment  possible. 
The  necessity  is  live  churches  than  many  may  be  born 
into  the  kingdom. 

A  Man  In  His  Corn  Field. 
Mr.  Howard  in  the  course  of  his  evangelistic  career' 
held  a  very  successful  meeting  near  Garnett,  Kansas. 
A  very  intelligent  and  enterprising  man  lived  there  at 
this  time.  Though  moral  and  otherwise  upright  he 
gave  no  heed  to  religious  matters.  In  fact  it  was  con- 
sidered out  of  the  question  for  one  to  approach  him  on 
the  subject.  All  efiforts  to  do  so  had  proven  futile. 
At  one  time  he  refused  to  allow  a  preacher  to  come 
upon  his  premises.  This  man  in  whom  the  reHgious 
people  of  the  community  were  greatly  interested,  Mr. 


72 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


Howard  resolved,  by  the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  win  to 
the  vSavior.  He  began  calling  upon  God  for  wisdom 
and  direction.  One  morning  he  saw  this  man  enter 
his  field  for  the  purpose  of  gathering  corn.  The 
thought  at  once  entered  the  mind  of  Mr.  Howard  to 
go  to  the  corn  field  and  offer  his  services  for  the  day. 
He  acted  upon  the  impression.  Every  offer  was  re- 
pulsed, the  man  fearing  a  conversation  upon  religious 
matters.  Finally  upon  being  told  that  the  exercise 
was  necessary,  and  that  it  would  be  considered  a  great 
privilege,  the  man  consented.  They  worked  together 
the  entire  forenoon.  Mr.  Howard  talked  about  the 
weather,  the  crops,  and  many  other  things,  but  not 
a  word  about  religion.  At  dinner  the  man  courteous- 
ly asked  him  to  return  thanks.  After  the  noon  meal 
the  work  was  immediately  resumed,  and  continued 
till  nightfall.  Mr.  Howard  did  not  stay  for  supper. 
On  taking  his  leave  he  informed  the  man  that  they 
were  holding  meetings  at  the  school  house,  and  kind- 
ly invited  him  to  attend.  He  came  that  evening  as  al- 
so the  next.  He  said  afterward  that  to  receive  the 
benefit  of  the  preacher's  labors  all  day  and  then  not  to 
go  and  hear  him  preach  at  night  was  too  small  and 
mean  for  anything.  On  the  second  evening  pungent 
conviction  seized  him.  The  next  morning  he  went  to 
his  corn  field  as  usual,  but  felt  his  lost  condition  so 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


7a 


keenly  that  he  hardly  knew  what  he  was  doing.  In 
fact  he  threw  nearly  all  the  corn  over  the  wagon.  In 
going  forty  rods  only  a  bushel  or  so  was  caught.  He 
had  to  go  back  and  gather  up  nearly  the  whole  of 
that  round  through.  "  As  he  reached  the  end  of  the 
row  God  gloriously  saved  him,  and  he  shouted  aloud 
the  praise  of  his  heart.  He  afterw^ards  became  a  very 
useful  man  in  the  church  and  in  society. 

How  true  when  the  Psalmist  said,  ''He  that  winneth 
souls  is  wise."  Paul  caught  men  by  /'guile.''  It  isn't 
the  loose  tongued  individual  who  talks  about  every- 
thing and  any  thing  to  make  himself  agreeable,  that 
draws  the  lost  toward  the  cross,  but  he  who  can  en~ 
twine  him.self  into  the  affection  of  his  people  by  wis- 
dom, love  and  a  burning  experience.  Such  an  indi- 
vidual has  but  one  work,  yet  he  becomes  all  things  to 
all  men,  that  by  some  means  he  may  win  some.  The 
purpose  of  his  life  is  to  become  adapted  to  every  cir- 
cumstance, i.  e.,  he  puts  himself  beside  the  rich,  the 
poor,  the  illiterate,  the  learned,  those  who  are  in  sor- 
row as  well  as  those  who  rejoice.  He  does  not  feel 
beneath  the  most  elevated,  nor  above  the  lowest.  Peo- 
ple will  feel  the  warmth  of  soul  of  such  an  individual. 
They  will  rejoice  in  the  fact  that  some  one  cares  for 
them  and  is  interested  in  their  eternal  welfare.  Divine 
wisdom  in  God's  saints  has  caught  them. 


74 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  XII. 

REMARKABLE  CONVERSIONS  — CONTINUED. 

A  Woman  and  her  Two  Dancing  Sons. 

A  widow  lady  who  Hved  with  her  two  grown 
sons  in  the  vicinity  of  the  revival  in  the  Dopps  neigh- 
l^orhood,  Norton  county,  Kansas,  had  built  a  dance 
hall,  and  furnished  her  two  sons  with  the  very  best  of 
fiddles.  Here  there  were  periodical  gatherings  of  the 
iun-loving,  dancing  populace.  The  place  had  become 
noted  on  account  of  the  wild  revel  and  sinful  practices 
of  these  motley  and  wicked  assemblages.  It  was  noth- 
ing more  than  a  perfect  rendezvousfor  the  devil's  forces. 
The  influence  which  went  out  from  this  place  as  a 
poison  to  the  v/hole  community  was  awful  to  con- 
template. But  as  hardened  in  sin  as  was  the  old  lady 
and  her  sons  they  were  not  so  far  gone  that  the  Spirit  of 
Almighty  God  could  not  reach  them.  Mr.  Howard 
7:)reached  boldly,  plainly  and  powerfully.    As  he,  like 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


lb 


Paul,  reasoned  of  Righteousness,  Temperance,  and  a 
Judgment  to  come,  many  trembled.  The  old  lady  at- 
tended the  meeting.  She  afterwards  expressed  herself 
concerning  it  that  "God  got  hold  of  me  and  shook  me 
•over  the  very  flames  of  hell."  She  walked  the  floor  one 
-entire  night  in  agony  of  soul.  She  prayed,  wept  and 
screamed  for  the  mercy  which  did  not  come.  The 
next  morning  one  of  those  wintry  blizzards,  so  com- 
mon to  North  West  Kansas,  was  raging  in  awful  fury. 
The  old  lady  walked  a  mile  through  this  to  the  place 
appointed  for  meeting.  She  carried  with  her  the  two 
fiddles  she  had  furnished  her  sons.  She  held  out  the 
fiddles  as  she  entered  the  meeting,  exclaiming,  ''This 
is  the  devil,  this  is  the  devil !"  She  then  ran  to  Mr. 
Howard  and  requested  him  to  put  them  in  the  fire.  He 
replied,  ''If  the  Lord  told  you  to  burn  them,  put  them 
in  the  fire  yourself."  Going  to  a  large  fireplace  where 
the  flames  were  burning  on  the  hearth,  she  threw  them 
tmder  the  forestick,  and  then  stood  watching  the  de- 
vouring flames  as  they  crackled,  snapped  and  popped 
among  the  strings  and  the  rosin.  The  literal  fire  was 
not  long  in  consuming  the  fiddles,  but  the  spiritual 
fire  a  thousand  times  quicker  consumed  the  sin  in  her 
heart  while  the  instruments  were  burning.  Her  two 
wicked  sons  were  also  converted  during  this  meeting, 
and  the  dance  hall  turned  into  a  house  of  worship. 


76 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


Mrs.  Chapman. 
■  Mrs.  Chapman  was  the  wife  of  an  unsaved  man. 
They  Hvecl  near  Logan,  Kansas.  It  was  during  the 
time  Mr.  Howard  held  his  revival  at  that  place.  After 
the  narrow  escape  and  deliverance  from  the  old  well 
narrated  in  another  chapter,  Mrs.  Chapman  became 
alarmed  about  her  soul's  condition.  She  could  not 
sleep  after  that  awful  night,  but  paced  the  floor,  pray- 
ing to  God  to  have  mercy  upon  her.  The  conviction 
of  her  heart  became  so  intense  that  she  took  to  her 
bed  and  would  not  be  comforted.  She  refused  to 
arise.  Her  husband  become  uneas}^  and  signified  his 
intention  to  go  for  a  doctor.  Mr.  Howard  kindly  re- 
monstrated, insisting  that  there  was  nothing  the  matter 
with  his  wife  except  conviction.  Mr.  Howard  now 
said  to  Mrs.  Chapman,  "There  is  nothing  the  matter 
with  you  except  sin-sickness.  If  you  will  yield  your- 
self to  God  it  will  soon  be  over."  She  expressed  a 
willingness  to  do  anything  that  might  be  required  of 
her.  Mr.  Howard  knew  that  just  across  the  road  a 
woman  lived — a  Mrs.  David — who  was  hated  by  Mrs. 
Chapman  with  all  the  intensity  of  her  unregenerate 
nature.  He  then  inquired  of  her  if  she  would  ask 
Mrs.  David  to  forgive  her  for  the  mean  things  said  and 
the  animosity  held  against  her.  ^To  this  she  reveng- 
fully  replied,  'Til  go  to  hell  first."    ''All  right,  you 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


77 


may  have  your  choice/'  said  Mr.  Howard.  '«The  road' 
is  clear  and  down  grade  all  the  w^ay.  You  may  have 
peace  and  happiness  or  you  may  choose  hell"  and  be 
lost  forever."  This  was  followed  by  a  period  of  pain- 
ful suspense  during  which  there  was  an  awful  struggle 
in  the  woman's  heart.  Presently  she  said,  ''Get  out 
of  here,  and  let  me  get  up  from  this  bed.''  The  room 
being  vacated  she  soon  came  out  with  a  completed 
toilet.  Upon  her  countenance  was  an  expressron 
that  indicated  an  immediate  settlement  was  determined 
upon.  She  at  once  proceeded  to  the  home  of  Mrs. 
David,  screaming  at  every  step.  Mrs.  David  was  in 
the  yard  and  saw  her  coming.  Supposing  it  to  be  in  a 
rage  she  started  to  run  around  the  house  that  she 
might  escape  the  vengeance  of  the  supposed  irate  Mrs. 
Chapman.  Being  soon  overtaken  she  was  surprised 
and  completely  overcome  at  the  difference  in  the  na- 
ture of  the  visit  from  what  was  at  first  supposed.  Look- 
ing up,  Mrs.  David  said,  ''Jane,  is  that  you?"  "Yes," 
replied  Mrs.  Chapman,  "this  is  me.  God  has  for- 
given me,  and  taken  all  my  sins  away.  I  now  want 
you  to  forgive  me  for  the  way  I  have  treated  you." 
The  difficulties  between  them  w^ere  soon  adjusted, 
and  Mrs.  Chapman  returned  home.  Meeting  her 
husband  near  the  barn  she  said  to  him,  "You  need  not 
go  for  a  doctor,  for  I  am  now  all  right  both  soul  and 


78 


TWENTY.  YEARS  OF 


body."  She  afterwards  said  that  God  saved  her  some- 
where between  her  home  and  that  of  Mrs.  David's.. 
She  proved  to  be  a  useful  Christian,  and  soon  after 
this  she  was  elected  class  leader  of  the  Free  Methodist 
class  organized  at  that  place. 

Mr.  Howard's  Little  Daughter  Alice. 
While  Mr.  Howard  was  holding  meetings  around 
Norton  his  little  daughter,  Alice,  was  powerfully  con- 
victed by  the  H0I3/  Spirit.  .  She  was  then  but  five 
years  old.  Her  mother  had  taught  her  to  pray,  and  she 
could  read  the  Bible  some.  Her  conviction  became 
more  pungent  as  time  passed.  One  day  the  mother 
said  to  her  husband,  "You  ought  to  say  something  to 
Alice  about  being  saved.  A  word  from  you  would  do 
much  good  just  now.  She  could  be  converted  so- 
easily."  But  he  answered,  ''Alice,  who  is  only  five 
years  old,  seek  the  Lord !  You  know  a  child  can't 
come  to  the  Savior  intelligently  until  they  are  ten  or 
twelve  years  of  age."  He  thus  put  the  subject  from 
his  mind.  One  morning  he  and  his  wife  went  to  the 
village  near  their  home.  Alice  was  weeping  and  com- 
pletely overcome  the  conviction  of  her  heart  was  so 
deep.  When  well  on  their  way  Mrs.  Howard  said,. 
''Husband,  you  must  speak  to  Alice  about  her  soul, 
and  encourage  her  to  seek  the  Lord."  He  gave  her 
no  better  satisfaction  than  before.    They  remained  in 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


79" 


town  but  a  short  time.  Upon  arriving  home  AHce  raa 
out  to  the  buggy  with  her  Httle  hands  high  above  her 
head,  and  exclaimed,  '.'Ma,  ma!  The  Lord  saved  me 
to-day/'  Her  face,  wreathed  in  smiles,  was  as  bright 
as  that  of  an  angel.  Her  father  sat  speechless.  It  was 
evident  to  him  that  she  had  been  converted.  Mrs. 
Howard,  getting  from  the  buggy,  took  her  Httle 
daughter  in  her  arms  and  carried  her  to  the  door  step. 
There  with  the  little  girl  upon  her  knee  she  asked,. 
''How  did  you  feel  to-day  when  the  Lord  saved  you?" 
Looking  her  mother  in  the  face  she  replied,  '(I  felt  as 
big  as  this  house."  Mr.  How^ard  could  stand  it  no 
longer.  He  broke  for  the  barn.  Here  he  asked  God 
to  forgive  him  for  discouraging  little  children  whea 
they  desired  to  come  to  Jesus.  This  was  a  complete 
cure.  He  now  saw  its  glorious  possibility.  During  a 
tabernacle  meeting  soon  after  this  Alice  was  baptized 
by  Elder  C.  M.  Damon.  It  was  a  very  impressive 
service,  tears  coming  to  many  eyes.  She  was  a  bright 
light  for  the  Lord  in  her  home,  living  her  older  sister 
under  conviction.  Alice  was  greatly  instrumental  in 
leading  her  sister  to  the  Savior.  In  after  years,  as  one 
of  a  Pentecostal  band,  she  traveled  with  her  father 
through  Texas,  Oklahoma,  and  the  Indian  Territory. 
At  the  age  of  tv\^enty,  under  the  blessing  of  the  Lord,, 
she  became  the  wife  of  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  preach- 


«0 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


er,  and  is,  to-day,  an  active,  devoted  woman  in  the 
vineyard  of  her  Master.  ''Train  up  a  child  in  the  way 
he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old,  he  will  not  depart 
irom  it."    Prov.  22:6. 

J.  W.  Edwards. 
Among  the  many  remarkable  conversions  under 
Mr.  Howard's  labors  was  that  of  J.  W.  Edwards.  He 
had  been  educated  for  a  Campbellite  preacher,  but  had 
never  been  converted.  The  Spirit  of  God  had  been 
•striving  with  him  for  some  time,  but  at  the  revival  held 
at  Mindon,  Nebraska,  his  conviction  came  to  a  cli- 
max. He  was  in  desperation.  One  Sabbath  forenoon 
while  Mr.  Howard  ^^'as  preaching  in  demonstration  of 
the  Spirit  and  po^ver,  God  so  mightily  touched  Mr. 
Edwards  that  he  fell  prostrate  as  one  shot.  He  was  ^ 
luiable  to  get  upon  his  feet.  He  would  grit  and  champ 
his  teeth  till  it  could  be  heard  anywhere  in  the  taber- 
nacle. Foam  flew  from  his  mouth  as  if  in  an  Epileptic 
fit.  Fifty  or  more  attempts  were  made  to  arise,  but  as 
■often  he  fell  to  the  ground.  Upon  his  hands  and 
knees  he  would  run  over  the  tabernacle.  As  if  in 
anger  the  heavy  seating  was  made  to  fly  in  every  direc- 
tion by  the  strokes  from  his  arm.  Becoming  desperate 
he  knocked  one  of  the  center  poles  out  at  the  bottom. 
Every  body  in  fear  left  the  tent,  and  were  peering  in 
from  the  outside  that  they  might  see  what  would  be 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


81 


the  outcome.  Mr.  J.  T.  Merry,  a  cousin  of  Mr.  Ed- 
wards, who  had  come  with  him  to  the  meeting,  now 
went  into  the  tabernacle  with  a  thought  of  quieting 
him  if  possible.  Mr.  Edwards  grabbed  him  about  the 
body.  Without  help  he  could  not  have  extricated  him- 
self. Mr.  Edwards  lay  under  the  power  of  the  Spirit 
for  an  hour  or  more.  By  this  time  the  whole  town 
had  become  aroused.  It  was  noised  abroad  that  there 
was  a  wild  man  at  the  tabernacle.  A  large  crowd  had 
gathered  to  w^itness  the  scene.  All  at  once  the  Lord 
in  glorious  converting  powder  touched  him,  and  he 
sprang  to  his  feet  clothed  in  his  right  mind.  He  gave 
vent  to  his  pent  up  feelings  by  shouting  the  praises 
of  God.  The  sheriff  was  standing  near.  Mr.  Ed- 
wards put  his  arms  about  his  neck  and  told  him  how 
blessedly  Jesus  had  saved  him.  In  great  earnestness 
he  exhorted  the  people  to  come  to  the  Lord.  His 
'  Avords  fell  Hke  burning  fire  upon  every  heart.  All  were 
melted  to  tears  under  the  gracious  message.  His 
truly  was  a  Pauline  conversion.  He  entered  the  min- 
istry at  once ;  and  is  yet  an  acceptable  and  efificient 
preacher  of  the  gospel. 

A  Man  Chased  by  the  Devil. 
An  amusing  case  occurred  while  Mr.  Howard  was 
holding  a  meeting  upon  the  Walnut  river  in  North 
West  Kansas.    Great  conviction  was  upon  the  people. 


82 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


The}^  were  screaming  their  way  to  God.  One  person 
concluded  he  would  run  away  from  the  Lord.  He 
started  for  his  home,  which  was  about  a  mile  down  the 
river,  as  hard  as  he  could  go.  Upon  arriving  there  he 
jumped  in  bed  with  his  boots  and  clothes  on,  pulled 
the  cover  over  himself,  and  lay  there  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes.  After  this  he  threw  them  off  and  started 
back  for  the  camp-ground.  He  rushed  to  the  altar 
and  was  blessedly  saved.  He  afterwards  said  that  he 
heard  the  devil  rattling  his  chains  after  him  every  step 
of  the  way,  and  also  that  he  got  in  bed  with  him  and 
crawled  under  the  cover.  His  wife  stood  near  by 
very  much  frightened. 

A  Young  Man  Hung  in  Grape  Vines. 

At  the  same  Walnut  river  revival  a  young  man 
started  to  run  from  the  altar.  He  jumped  through  the 
tabernacle  curtain  tearing  a  great  hole  in  it.  He  leaped 
over  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  fell  into  the  midst  of 
a  mat  of  tree  tops,  vines,  etc.  He  was  caught  in  this 
thicket  and  could  not  get  loose.  In  this  predicament 
he  was  powerfully  saved,  and  there  praised  his  blessed 
Lord.  He  afterwards  entered  the  ministry,  so  we  are 
told.  Rev.  J.  T.  Merry,  who  is  now  preaching  the 
gospel,  and  a  bright  light  in  Kansas  for  God,  was  also 
gloriously  delivered  from  sin  in  this  meeting. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


83 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
MR.  Howard's  experience. 

'T  beseech  yon  therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies 
of  God,  that  ye  present  yonr  bodies  a  Hving  sacrifice, 
holy,  acceptable  nnto  God,  which  is  your  reasonable 
service ;  and  be  not  conformed  to  this  world,  but  be 
ye  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that  ye 
may  prove  what  is  that  good,  and  acceptable,  and 
perfect  will  of  God."  Rom.  12:1,  2.  "For  this  is  the 
will  of  God,  even  your  sanctification."    I.  Thess.  4:3. 

In  the  spring  of  1880  I  came  to  Kansas  from  Iowa, 
and  entered  into  evangelistic  w^ork  immediately.  In 
these  meetings  held,  as  well  as  many  others,  I  believe  I 
have  seen  hundreds  of  souls  converted  and  sanctified 
to  God.  I  was  so  powerfully  blessed  at  times  that  I 
came  to  the  conchrsion  I  enjoyed  the  grace  of  holi- 
ness, and  so  professed  it.    The  sad  mistake  I  here 


84 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


made  was  the  taking  the  blessings  of  God  as  the  real 
^  work  of  hoHness,  wrought  in  the  soul  by    the  Holy 
Spirit. 

The  light  came  into  my  soul  in  the  month  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1890.  In  reading  the  autobiography  of  that 
blessed  man  of  God,  Charles  G.  Finney,  I  was  brought 
to  see  that  I  had  never  known  what  it  was  to  be  entire- 
ly sanctified.  'Awful  conviction  seized  my  heart  for  the' 
first  time  that  I  might  obtain  this  great  blessing.  My 
entire  being  seemed  to  quiver,  and,  for  a  while,  my 
soul  seemed  to  be  in  a  perfect  tempest,  with  a  desire 
to  know  what  to  do.  I  thought,  "I  have  professed  it 
all  these  years ;  and  now  to  confess  that  I  never  pos- 
sessed it!  surely  the  cause  of  God  will  suffer.  Oh,  if 
I  could  only  die,  and  be  blotted  out,  so  that  the  cause 
of  God  would  not  be  injured,  I  would  be  willing  to  do 
it."  Then  I  would  think  of  my  soul,  "What  will  be- 
come of  it?  I  dare  not  permit  it  to  be  lost,  if  all  the 
churches  in  the  world  go  down.''  I  saw  plainly  that  it 
Avas  holiness  or  hell.  I  said  within  myself,  ''What  shall 
I  do?  **The  cross  is  now  in  sight.  *  Oh,  to  be  crucified 
with  Jesus 

I  now  began  to  see  and  feel  what  it  meant  to  die  on 
the  cross  with  the  Lord.  So  many  are  nailed  to  the 
tree,  but  remove  themselves  before  they  are  dead.  I 
said,  VLord,  I  will  take  the  cup,  and  go  through  the 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


85 


garden  with  thee."  My  convictions  now  were  in- 
tense. This  was  during  a  revival  service.  I  was  an- 
nounced to  preach  at  night.  I.  thought,  ''How  could  I 
preach,  when  I  ought  to  be  prayed  for?"  But  I  felt  I 
dared  not  refuse.  The  church  was  crowded.  I  took 
my  text.  It  was  Matt.  25:46:  ''And  these  shall  go 
away  into  everlasting  punishment,  but  the  righteous 
into  life  eternal."  I  felt  sure  the  sermon  was  all  for 
myself.  I  could  hardly  wait  till  I  had  concluded.  I 
then  made  a  full  statement  of  my  condition  to  the 
congregation,  telling  them  my  convictions,  what  I 
wanted,  and  that  I  was  going  to  the  altar.  I  also  told 
them  that  as  many  as  were  under  conviction  for  par- 
don or  purity  to  come  and  go  with  me.  I  cannot  tell 
all  that  occurred  after  this,  but  suffice  it  to  say  that  fif- 
teen more  came  rushing  to.  the  altar.  A  powerful 
meeting  followed,  lasting  till  after  midnight.  I  did  not 
obtain  the  desire  of  my  soul  that  night,  but  the  next 
morning,  in  my  ovs^n  home.  Sabbath,  February  3,  at 
about  10  o'clock,  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and 
fire  came  on  me,  until  I  was  completely  melted  into  1 
nothing."  I  seemed  to  be  bathing  in  a  river  of  life.  My 
soul  was  in  a  sea  of  love,  lost  in  wonder,  love,  and 
praise.  I  was  wedded  to  Christ  as  never  before.  Eter- 
nity is  my  dwelling  place.  Why  the  Lord  is  keeping 
me  here  so  long,  is  now  very  plain.    He  designed  that 


86 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


I  should  tarry,  till  I  should  be  endued  with  power  from 
on  high.  I  desire  now  to  say,  that  I  often  considered 
my  preaching  better  than  my  experience.  Often, 
while  I  was  endeavoring  to  bring  others  into  this  won- 
derful grace,  I  found  my  own  soul  reaching  out  for 
the  very  same  thing.  Having  now  obtained  this  rich 
baptism,  and,  finding  it  has  so  eclipsed  my  former  ex- 
perience, I  wonder,  at  times,  if  I  ever  possessed  any- 
thing before.  But  surely  I  did.  What  surprises  me 
most  is  to  think  I  have  been  deceived  all  these  years. 
Many  others,  I  fear,  are  in  the.  same  condition — get 
blessed  and  call  it  holiness. 

I  hope  no  one  will  stumble  over  my  mistake,  and 
profess  holiness  of  heart  and  life  before  they  enjoy  it. 
I  am  just  now  prepared  to  glorify  God,  and  to  "rescue* 
'the  perishing''  as  never  before.  All  through  my  soul 
T  am  now  feeling,  that  we,  as  a  church,  are  on  the  very 
verge  of  a  sweeping  reformation.  During  this  time 
Vv^e  are  to  accomplish  that  for  which  God  has  called 
us  out,  namely,  to  raise  up  a  holy  people.  This,  and 
this  only,  is  our  mission.  I  am  expecting  old  apostolic 
religion  to  soon  revive  among  us,  even  as  we  have 
never  seen  it  before. 

I  hope  this  experience  will  cause  some  poor,  de- 
ceived soul  to  stop  and  think,  and  examine  himself 
that  he  may  discover  whether  he  is  in  possession  of 


\ 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


87 


the  pure  gold,  or  not.  It  will  never  do  to  guess  at  it 
as  I  did.  Just  now,  as  I  wTite,  my  soul  is  in  a  perfect 
blaze  of  salvation.  I  clearly  understand  the  Bible 
where  it  says,  that  God's  ministers  shall  be  a  flame  of 
fire.    I  have  it.    Glory,  glory,  glory. 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

NOTABLE  CASES  OF  CONSECRATION  AND  SANCTIFICATION. 

A  Notable  Resurrection. 

Mr.  Howard  condticted  a  very  successful  meeting 
at  Carbondale,  Kansas,  a  mining  town.  An  attempt 
was  made  by  the  people  to  boycott  it.  On  the  fourth 
night  of  the  revival,  a  very  intelligent  woman  fell  un- 
der the  power  of  God.  Mr.  Howard  was  emphasizing 
the  necessity  of  dying  out  to  self,  and  being  made 
aHve  in  Christ.  The  people  having  never  seen  such  a 
demonstration  as  this,  were  at  a  loss  to  understand  it. 
A  few  became  alarmed  and  left  the  tabernacle,  taking 
particular  pains  to  spread  the  news  as  they  went,  that 
there  was  a  woman  dead  over  at  the  tent.  A  report 
like  this  spread  rapidly,  and  before  very  long  the 
tabernacle  was  filled  with  an  excited  crowd  of  the  cu- 
riously inclined,  who  pushed  and  jostled  against  each 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


89" 


Other,  in  their  eagerness  to  get  a  glimpse  of  the  "dead 
woman."  A  physician  entered,  who,  having  felt  of  her 
pulse,  announced  that  she  would  be  dead  in  twenty 
minutes.  ■»  "Glory  to  God!"  shouted  Mr.  Howard,  ''I  f 
did  not  know  we  were  so  near  a  resurrection.  There 
can  be  no  resurrection  without  a  death.  If  you  will 
all  be  patient,  you  will  presently  witness  one  that  is 
most  glorious.''  This  seemed  to  enrage  the  people  all 
the  more,  and  especially  the  physician,  who  ordered 
the  woman  to  be  taken  out  of  the  tent.  Several  came 
forward  as  if  to  obey  his  commands,  when  a  man,  who- 
was  kneeling  at  the  woman's  side,  said,  "This  is  my 
wife;  please  let  her  alone."  The  physician  turned 
angrily  away,  exclaiming,  "Let  her  die,  then!"  The 
excitement  was  now  at  fever  heat.  Whisperings  were 
heard  in  the  congregation,  which  indicated  that  Mr. 
Howard  might  be  mobbed.  About  2  o'clock  in  the^ 
morning  this  "dead  woman"  came  to  "life.".  She 
bounded  to  her  feet,  leaping  and  praising  God  all  over 
the  tabernacle.  Then  she  ran  down  the  main  street  of 
the  town,  still  shouting  "Glory"  to  God.  People  came 
from  their  homes  to  see  what  new  excitement  had 
broken  loose  at  this  unseemly  hour  of  the  night.  God 
was  glorified  in  it  all,  as  there  was  no  further  attempt 
to  boycott  the  meeting.  The  advertisements  of  God 
are  successful. 


-90 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


Dying  to  This  World. 
During  the  revival  at  Willis,  Mr.  Howard  was  en- 
tertained at  the  home  of  a  good  brother.  The  lady  of 
the  house  became  deeply  concerned,  ,at  an  early  stage 
of  the  meeting,  about  her  soul's  welfare,  and  the  ob- 
tainment  of  a  glorious  experience.  One  night  the 
Lord  helped  Mr.  Howard  to  draw  the  gospel  lines  very 
closely.  The  sister  gave  two  or  three  screams  and 
then  fell.  There  was  a  long  struggle  with  the  powers 
of  darkness.  It  finally  resulted  in  great  victory  to  her 
soul.  Her  husband  was  sornewhat  abashed  at  such 
<lemonstrations,  and  turned  pale  with  anger.  Having 
arrived  at  home  after  meeting,  and  being  seated  in 
their  parlor,  this  woman  arose  and  took  from  her 
wardrobe  a  very  fine  cloak  all  covered  with  beads. 
This  she  placed  upon  the  center  table.  Upon  the  cloak 
she  placed  an  eleven  dollar  hat,  and  upon  the  whole 
her  gold  watch  and  finger  rings.  Looking  her  hus- 
band in  the  face,  and  pointing  to  these  emblems  of  her 
pride,  she  said,  ''Husband,  I  have  never  disobeyed  you 
in  my  life,  have  I?"  ''No,  you  have  not/' he  replied. 
"Well,"  continued  she,  'T  don't  want  to  disobey  you, 
b)Ut  you  must  never  ask  me  to  put  those  things  on,  for 
by  the  grace  of  God,  I  shall  never  wear  them  again." 
Mr.  Howard  observing  the  husband's  angry  scowls, 
and  foreseeing  a  storm,  retired  for  the   night.  The 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


91 


next  morning  the  wife  told  Mr.  Howard  the  remark 
her  husband  had  made.  Said  he,  ''We  had  peace  be- 
fore Mr.  Howard  came.  I  shall  not  give  another 
preacher  a  dime  as  long  as  I  live."  That  night,  by  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord,  Mr.  Howard  was  moved  to  tender- 
ness and  tears.  In  the  course  of  his  remarks  he 
said,  "I  don't  know  but  that  I  shall  be  compelled  to 
sleep  with  your  cattle  before  I  .leave  this  place.  I  love 
friends,  but  telling  the  truth  sometimes  makes  ene- 
mies. You  may  all  turn  against  me  if  you  will,  but 
my  soul  is  at  stake,  and  tell  you  the  truth  I  must."  At 
this  juncture  the  brother  at  whose  home  Mr.  Howard 
had  been  stopping,  and  who  had  been  so  much 
abashed  at  the  demonstrations  of  his  wife,  fell  upon 
his  knees,  and  asked  both  God  and  his  wife  to  forgive 
him.  It  was  promptly  done,  and  great  joy  came  to  his 
heart.  This  event  harmonized  matters  in  that  home, 
•  gave  new  impetus  to  the  meeting,  and  was  also  the 
means  of  enlightening  others  with  regard  to  worldly 
conformity. 

A  Missionary  to  Africa. 
In  the  timber,  near  Neosho  Rapids,  Kansas,  a 
meeting  was  held  in  which  the  power  of  God  was 
greatly  manifested.  At  different  times  during  the  revival 
many  were  completely  overcome,  and  fell  prostrate  to 
the  earth.   Among  this  number  was  Grace  Allen,  who 


92 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


has  been,  since  that  memorable  occasion,  a  devoted 
missionary  in  Africa,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Free 
Alethodist  church.  This  sister  had  long  felt  the  Holy 
Spirit  calling  her  to  that  dark,  benighted  land,  but 
had  never  reached  that  place  where  she  could  consent 
to  go.  On  the  night  in  question  Mr.  Howard  had,  un- 
der the  gracious  anointing  of  the  Lord,  been  enabled 
to  show  w^hat  it  meant  to  be  a  true  disciple  of  Jesus, 
leaving  houses  and  lands,  fathers  and  mothers,  etc.,. 
for  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  The  presence  of  God  per- 
vaded the  entire  encampment  so  powerfully,  that  sin- 
ners w^ere  compelled  to  sob  aloud,  "What  shall  I  do- 
to  be  saved?"  Grace  Allen,  pale  and  motionless,  lay 
prostrate  upon  the  ground,  until  the  after  part  of  the 
night.  When  she  revived  from  this  condition  she 
rejoiced  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  Fi- 
nally she  bid  them  all  a  last,  long  farewell,  exclaiming 
again  and  again,  in  the  midst  of  her  rejoicing,  ''Africa 
for  God."  She  ran  to  her  mother,  and,  embracing  her, 
said,  ''Farewell,  mother;  farewell  home;  good-by,  my 
native  land."  Grace  had  been  wonderfully  attached 
to  her  mother,  and  while  teaching  school,  could  hardly 
wait  until  Friday  evening  came,  that  she  might  return 
to  her  home  and  to  her  mother.  This  being  one  of  the 
great  points  of  conflict  in  her  consecration,  ''to  give 
up  her  mother,"  she  now  turned  to  the  people,  but  still 


REVIVAL  EFFORT 


93 


addressed  her  mother,  saying,  ''Mother,  in  my  conse- 
cration, I  helped  make  your  shroud ;  1  wiped  the  cold 
sweat  from  your  forehead ;  I  helped  lay  you  in  your 
coffin ;  I  saw  you  covered  up.  Then  I  said,  'Good- 
by,  Mother.'  "  She  now  sang,  ''Jesus,  I  my  cross 
have  taken,"  in  sweet  tender  accents,  that  echoed  out 
over  the  encampment.  It  reverberated  through  every 
tree  top,  till  in  the  far  distance  it  died  away  in  whis- 
pers almost  divine.  Those  silvery  strains  will  never 
fade  from  the  memory  of  those  who  heard  her  that 
day.  There  were  sobs  of  suppressed  emotion,  wails 
of  anguish,  and  scalding  tears  ;  many  vows  were  re- 
membered, and  promises  made  as  the  little  company 
sang  for  their  closing  hymn,  "God  be  with  you,  till 
we  meet  again."  This  sister  soon  went  to  Africa.  She 
has  been  there  ten  long  years.  During  this  time  she 
has  not  been  homesick  a  moment,  and  would  not  re- 
turn with  an  intent  to  stay  if  she  had  an  opportunity. 
That  memorable  night  at  Neosho  Rapids,  it  was  settled 
once  for  all.  Her  parents  are  still  living,  and  she  fre- 
quently writes  to  them,  that  she  is  coming  up  at  the 
last  day  with  these  precious  souls  rescued  from  heath- 
en darkness,  as  her  crown  of  glory. 

A  Deathly  Struggle. 
During  a  very    successful  revival  in  Smith  county, 
imder  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Howard,  a  very  interest- 


94 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


ing  case  occurred,  A  lady  school  teacher  in  attend- 
ance upon  the  services  was  under  deep  conviction.  It 
became  so  pow^erful  she  could  neither  eat  nor  sleep  for 
several  days.  She  came  to  the  penitent  form  eight 
nights  in  succession  before  she  was  saved.  Earnestly 
and  prayerfully  had  she  been  labored  with  during  this 
time,  but  all  to  no  avail.  During  the  last  night  extra- 
ordinary efforts  were  put  forth  that  she  might  be  led 
to  the  cross.  Mr.  Howard,  kneeling  by  her  side  at  the 
^  altar,  said,  ''I  see  you  are  w^earing  a  gold  ring.  You 
know  the  Bible  forbids  the  use  of  gold  for  ornamen- 
tation. Will  you  put  it  away?''  "Yes,  I  can,"  she  re- 
plied. ''But  will  you  give  it  up  for  Jesus?"  he  asked. 
Her  tears  now  became  dry  for  a  few  moments,  but  the 
Holy  Spirit  did  not  cease  striving  with  her  to  lay  it 
off.  At  this  juncture,  her  struggles  were  as  in  death, 
and  she  cried  mightily  unto  God  for  victory,  but  all 
the  while  avoiding  the  point  at  issue.  The  light  upon 
her  soul  was  too  plain,  hence  the  Lord  urged  a  de- 
cision. There  being  no  means  of  escape  but  by  way  of 
the  cross,  she  made  a  grab  for  the  ring.  Uttering  a  cry 
of  helplessness,  she  let  go.  This  fierce  struggle  lasted 
for  about  two  hours,  when,  all  at  once,  she  gave  an 
unearthly  scream,  and  jerked  the  ring  from  her  finger 
throwing  it  over  her  head.  It  had  no  more  than 
touched  the  floor,  till  she  was  upon    her  feet  praising 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


the  Lord.  Next  morning  in  a  testimony  meeting,  she 
said,  "If  all  the  people  in  Kansas  had  told  me  that  that 
gold  ring  had  become  so  firmly  fixed  in  the  pride  of 
my  heart,  I  would  never  have  believed  it.  When  I 
m.ade  up  my  mind  it  must  come  off,  and  put  the  de- 
cision into  action,  I  verily  thought  both  the  skin  and  > 
knuckle  was  coming  oft"  with  it."  That  ring  was  so 
loose  it  would  nearly  drop  off ;  it  even  did  not  make  a. 
;  mark  around  the  finger.  The  pulling  was  in  her 
heart.  After  this  she  became  a  very  successful  worker 
in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  It  pays  to  say  good-by  to 
the  world  for  the  smiles  of  the  Savior. 

"The  dearest  idol  I  have  known, 

Whate'er  that  idol  be. 
Help  me  to  tear  it  from  its  throne, 

And  worship  only  thee." 
Every  true  believer  comes  to  a  place  where  the  ''pride 
of  life"  must  be  sep^arated  from  them.  When  a  per- 
son passing  along  a  street,  sees  potatoes,  flour,  and 
sugar  sitting  in  front  of  a  store,  he  knows  those  arti- 
cles are  for  sale  inside.  Farther  down  he  witnesses 
boots  and  shoes  hanging  by  a  door.  This  is  proof  evi- 
dent that  they  can  be  obtained  within.  Just  so  wheny 
you  see  various  ornaments  upon  the  person  of  an  indi- 
vidual, you  may  know  there  is  pride  in  the  heart.  A  poke 
upon  a  horse  in  a  pasture  does  not    make  the  animal 


•96 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


breachy,  but  it  evidences  to  the  passer  by  that  he  is 
breachy. ,  Let  none  have  any  other  sign  than  the  mark 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  upon  them,  then  we  will  nev- 
^er  be  observed  in  a  false  light. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


97 


CHAPTER  XV. 

WONDERFUL  INSTANCES   OF  HEALING. 

Mr.  Ho\Yard  has  always  been,  and  is  now,  a  firm  be- 
liever in  Divine  Healing. 

He  believes  Jesus  Christ  is  both  able  and  willing  to 
heal  both  the  body  and  soul  whenever  it  would  be  for 
his  glory. 

He  believes  the  proper  use  of  medicine  is  very  bene- 
ficial. .^Tf  any  one  has  a  faith  for  healing  which  heals  ' 
him,  let  him  discard  medicine ;  but  if  his  faith  only 
claims  healing,  and  fails  to  produce  an  actual  cure,  it 
would  be  well  to  get  more  faith,  or  else  get  a  reputable 
doctor.'' 

He  does  not  believe  the  Word  of  God  teaches  ''that 
sickness  is  provided  for  in  the  atonement  upon  the  same 
basis  as  sin.  'No  person  can  be  sinful  and  not  con- ^ 
demned ;  if  sickness  stands  in  precisely  the  same  re- 
lationship to  the  atonement  as  sin  then  no  man  can  be 
sick  without  being  under  condemnation.     Such  a 


98 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


view  is  positively  vicious  and  a  perversion  of  the 
Bible." 

The  following  is  the  point:  "Hold  a  meeting 
anywhere,  hold  up  sin  and  sickness  as  being  both  equal 
in  the  atonement,  and  ask  seekers  forward  to  receive 
the  eradication  of  sin  and  the  eradication  of  disease, 
ten  will  come  forward  for  the  latter,  and  one  for  the 
former ;  and  in  the  subsequent  testimony  the  same  ra- 
tio will  appear  among  the  witnesses.  Men  and  women 
will  marvel,  and  look,  and  talk  when  bodily  healing 
is  the  topic,  and  be  dumb  as  oysters  w^hen  holiness  is 
the  topic.'' 

Mr.  Howard. 

At  the  time  of  his  healing,  Mr.  Howard  was  holding  a 
revival  upon  the  Walnut  river.  Having  been  in  evan- 
gelistic work  for  four  consecutive  vears,  his  health  was 
considerably  impaired.  It  was  apparent  to  all  that  he 
was  failing  with  consum.ption.  At  a  Sabbath  morning 
service  he  undertook  to  preach,  but  his  voice  being 
very  weak,  he  failed  in  the  attempt.  He  arose  and 
stated  that  this  would  be  his  last  revival  upon  earth, 
and  requested  the  people  to  come  together  again  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  that  he  might  bid  them  a  last, 
fond  farewell.  A  sister  Dixon,  who  was  in  the  con- 
gregation, arose,  ran  to  the  woods,  fell  on  her  face  be- 
fore the  Lord,  and  began  to  plead  with  him  to  spare 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


99 


the  life  of  Mr.  Howard.  For  three  longjiours  she  con- 
tinued her  pleading,  when  she  returned  to  the  encamp- 
ment with  shouts  of  praise,  crying  out,  ''He  will  be 
healed  before  twxlve  o'clock  to-night.''  Mr.  Howard, 
was  sitting  on  a  log  near  the  tabernacle,  when  she  ran 
up  to  him  and  said,  "The  Lord  has  revealed  to  me  that 
you  will  be  healed  before  midnight."  Five  o'clock  had 
now  come,  and  the  people  were  coming  together  to- 
hear  Mr.  Howard's  parting  words.  He  arose  to  speak^ 
but  shortness  of  breath  compelled  him  to  desist.  He 
finally  requested  all  v;ho  would  meet  him  in  the  glory 
land,  to  kneel  with  him  around  the  altar.  About  one 
hundred  came.  The  scenes  which  followed  are  beyond 
description.  The  meeting  continued  all  the  night 
long.  /  Its  solenm  quietness  was  broken  at  frequent  in- 
tervals with  the  shouts  of  redeemed  souls,  as  they 
came  into  the  clear,  beautiful  light  of  God.  Every  little 
^vhile,  without  urging,  some  unsaved  person  would 
come  to  the  altar,  and  wnth  strong  crying,  would  plead 
for  mercy.  There  was  no  interruption  in  this  wave 
of  saving  grace,  and  flood  of  down-coming  glory, 
till  nearly  sunrise  the  next  morning.  At  about 
ten  o'clock  while  Mr.  Howard  was  standing 
by  one  of  the  tabernacle  center  poles  he  counted  six- 
teen persons  lying  under  the  power  of  God.  All  at 
once  an  impression  came  to  him  to  say,  ''It  is  done."' 


100 


TWENTY  YfiARS  OF 


He  did  so  in  a  very  weak  tone  of  voice.  The  force  of 
it  seemed  to  go  no  higher  than  his  head.  A  second 
time  he  was  impressed  to  say,  'Tt  is  done."  This 
time  the  force  of  it  seemed  to  go  about  as  high  as  the 
tabernacle.  Then  quick  as  a  flash  the  third  impression 
came.  It  was  with  such  tremendous  force  and  power, 
that  he  threw  both  his  hands  over  his  head,  and  clap- 
ping them  together,  he  cried  in  a  clear  tone  of  voice, 
'TT  IS  DONE."  This  time  as  he  looked  up,  the  whole 
top  of  the  tabernacle  seemed  to  go  out.  The  healing 
power  ran  through  his  entire  physical  being.  He  de- 
scribed it  afterwards  as  coming  upon  him  like  a  gentle 
shower  of  rain,  permeating  his  entire  being,  even  to 
the  tips  of  his  fingers,  and  the  ends  of  his  toes.  He 
shouted,  "1  am  healed,  I  am  healed  !"  and  ran  through 
the  encampment  glorifying  God  for  what  had  been  ac- 
comphshed.  The  work  was  done  according  to  James 
5 :  IS,  in  answer  to  the  prayer  of  faith ;  it  was  complete, 
instantaneous,  and  satisfactory.  From  that  day  till 
this  Mr.  Howard  has  never  been  obhged  to  discontinue 
his  labors  on  account  of  diseased  throat  and  lungs. 
Eternity  alone  will  reveal  all  that  was  accomplished 
lin  this  service.  He  was  so  wonderfully  healed  that  he 
never  afterward  needed  medicine  for  his  throat  or 
lungs,  but  at  times  he  requires  remedies  for  other  ail- 
ments.   At  such   occasions  tie  conscientiously,  and 


EEVIVAL  EFFORT. 


101 


prayerfully  applies  them,  for  he  does  "not  believe  that 
the  use  of  remedies  is  a  sin,  not  even  to  those  who 
have  at  some  time  been  healed  in  answer  to  prayer.  If 
God  makes  known  His  will  to  heal  a  sick  person  with- 
out remedies,  we  would  not  on  any  account  use  reme- 
dies, but  until  God  puts  into  our  hands  what  is  better, 
v\^e  are  bound  to  use  the  blessed  gifts  of  healing  which 
He  has  so  mercifully  provided  in  the  material  world/' 
Mother  Dunning. 
An  incident  of  great  note  which  occurred  while  Mr- 
Howard  was  laboring  at  Orleans,  Nebraska,  was  the 
healing  of  Mother  Dunning,  as  she  was  called.  She 
had  been  a  preacher  for  twenty-five  years  in  New 
York  Citv,  but  had  moved  with  her  son-in-law,  Rev. 
C.  M.  Damon,  to  Orleans.  She  was  afflicted  with  the 
dropsy,  and  at  the  time  of  which  we  write,  was  sufTer- 
ing  intensely.  In  fact  it  was  such  that  word  was  sent 
to  Mr.  Howard  that  Mother  Dunning  was  very  low 
and  could  not  live  until  midnight,  and  that  he  had  bet- 
ter have  the  saints  come  in  and  bid  her  good-by  before 
her  departure.  When  the  pilgrims  entered  that  even- 
ing many,  looking  upon  her,  said,  ''She  is  dead  now.'' 
Others  said,  ''No  there  is  some  life  yet."  When  the 
room  had  become  fairly  well  filled,  Mr.  Howard  said, 
"Let  us  pray.''  Falling  upon  their  knees,  they  began  to 
unburden  their  sorrowful  hearts  into  the  ears  of  Al- 


102 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


mighty  God.  During  the  prayer  service  Rev.  J.  H. 
Ogg,  a  man  of  strong  faith,  fell  prostrate  upon  the 
floor.  He  attempted  to  arise,  but  fell  back  again.  At 
last  in  one  powerful  effort,  he  succeeded  in  getting 
upon  his  feet.  He  proceeded  to  the  bedside  of  ^lother 
Dunning,  and  in  a  voice  of  authority,  commanded 
her  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Tesus,  to  arise  and  walk. 
She  only  moved  her  eyes  a  little.  He  repeated  the 
same  command  again,  btu  ^^'ith  more  authority  and 
force  than  before.  This  time  there  was  a  perceptible 
motion  of  the  feet  and  limbs  under  the  cover,  as  if  there 
wotild  be  an  attempt  to  obey.  Brother  Ogg  now  fair- 
ly screamed  his  third  command  for  her  to  arise  and 
walk.  At  this  ]vIother  Dunning  sprang  from  the  bed 
and  ran  all  around  the  room  shouting  and  praising 
God,  She  looked  at  them  all  and  exclaimed,  'T  am 
the  same  as  one  brought  from  the  dead."  She  lived 
a  number  of  years  after  this  to  preach  the  gospel,  and 
finally  went  home  to  glory. 

T.  H.  Bradlev. 
In  the  Dopps  neighborhood,  upon  the  Sappa  river, 
jMr.  Howard  held  a  very  successful  revival.  A 
great  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  occurred  here.  There 
were  many  notable  cases  of  God's  power  to  save,  sanc- 
tify, and  heal.  J.  H.  Bradley,  who  had  been  addicted 
to  the  use  of  morphine  for  over  twenty  years,  was,  in 


REVIVAL  EFFOET. 


103 


this  meeting,  delivered  from  his  appetite's  awful  thrall- 
dom.  Physicians  had  said  he  used  enough  every  day 
to  kill  six  common  men.  One  night  while  Mr.  How- 
ard Vv^as  preaching,  he  was  powerfully  convicted  to  give 
np  his  awful  habit,  or  lose  his  soul.  That  night  he  was 
.accompanied  to  his  home  by  Mr.  Howard,  and  upon 
retiring  made  a  strong  request  to  sleep  with  him. 
''James,  what  do  you  mean,"  said  his  wife,  she  sup- 
posing that  he  was  again  attacked  by  his  oft  returning 
dehrium.  He  replied,  ''Mother,  I  am  all  right,  but  I 
want  to  sleep  with  Mr.  Howard  to-night."  After  re- 
tiring Mr.  Bradley  unburdened  his  heart,  saying, 
''While  you  were  preaching  to-night,>I  saw  hell-fire  in-" 
all  its  awfulness.  It  was  clearly  revealed  to  me  that  I 
must  give  up  my  morphine.  I  have  used  it  for  more 
than  twenty  years,  or  ever  since  the  late  war. 
You  know  history  tells  us  that  only  one  person  has 
ever  succeeded  in  freeing  himself  from  it  after  eight 
years'  use.  Now,  what  I  wanted  to  ask  you,  is  this: 
"^'If  I  give  it  up,  and  die  in  the  struggle,  will  I  be  lost?" 
"No,"  said  Mr.  Howard,  "if  you  are  real  sure  that 
God  wants  you  to  give  it  up,  and  you  are  doing  it  for 
Jesus's  sake,  the  Lord  will  see  you  through." 
^'Then,"  said  Mr.  Bradley,  "I  want  you  to  promise  me 
that  when  the  struggle  comes  and  I  begin  to  weaken, 
that  you  will  stand  by  my  bed  and  keep  the  doctors 


104 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


away.  The  moment  I  show  signs  of  faiHng,  they  will 
dose  me  with  morphine."  He  promised  he  would. 
Then  Mr.  Bradley  threw  his  morphine  away,  and  the 
battle  began.  He  grew  weaker  and  weaker,  and  on 
the  second  day  after  he  threw  it  away,  he  went  to  bed. 
His  friends  became  much  alarmed,  and  consulted  with 
Mr.  Howard  about  sending  for  a  doctor.  He  refused 
to  give  his  consent,  saying,  ''God  has  undertaken  the 
case  and  will  not  fail  him  at  this  time  of  need;  be-- 
sides  I  pledged  my  word  and  honor  that  I  would 
keep  the  doctors  away."  The  doctor  came,  however,, 
and  manifested  his  indignation  by  upbraiding  Mr. 
Howard.  ''This  man  will  die,"  said  he,  ''and  the  com- 
munity will  blame  you,  and  mob  you  if  he  does."  On 
the  fourth  day  when  all  hope  of  his  recovery  seemed 
to  fade  away,  the  power  of  God  came  upon  him,  and  * 
he  sprang  from  the  bed,  ran  all  through  the  house,  and 
down  through  the  corrall,  shouting  and  praising  God 
from  his  inmost  soul,  for  what  had  been  wrought. 
This  man  had  frequently  attempted  to  kill  himself  and 
family  when  suffering  from  his  awful  morphine  delir- 
ium. He  lived  about  ten  years  after  this,  during 
which  time  he  was  a  successful  minister  of  the  gospel. 
As  a  result  of  his  healing — God  never  heals  only  for 
some  definite  purpose — his  wife  and  two  daughters 
were  gloriously  saved. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


105 


A  Colored  Minister. 

The  revival  at  Purcell,  Oklahoma,  will  ever  be  re- 
membered by  many  precious  souls.  One  of  the 
morning  services  at  the  tabernacle  was  a  powerful 
meeting.  Rev.  L.  Wing,  in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist, 
gives  a  vivid  description  of  it,  as  follows : 

''Two  souls  were  converted,  one  a  colored  preacher, 
who  was  reclaimed,  then  sanctified  and  healed  in 
body.  I  can  hardly  touch  with  pen  the  scenes  of  that 
hour.  This  dear  man  had  been  laid  aside  from 
preaching  for  nearly  four  years  with  preacher's  sore 
throat.  He  was  emaciated,  weak,  and  bent  in  body. 
At  the  above  mentioned  meeting,  he  with  others  came 
to  the  altar,  submitted  himself  to  God,  and  was  re- 
stored to  his  favor.  Soon  after,  he  consecrated  him- 
self fully  to  be  the  Lord's,  and  claimed  sanctification 
by  faith.  He  afterwards  testified,  'I  have  received 
something  I  never  had  before.'  Almost  simulta-  ^ 
neously  w^ith  this, his  faith  took  hold  of  God  for  physical 
healing,  as  the  evangelist  in  his  sermon  had  clearly  set 
forth  all  these  truths.  The  great  Physician  touched 
him,  and  he  was  instantly  healed ;  and  whereas  he 
could  with  difificulty  talk  when  he  came  to  the  altar, 
he  could,  after  this,  speak  with  a  strong,  clear,  res- 
onant voice,  and  testified  to  the  good  work  wrought. 
In  his  present  great  joy  he  leaped  to  the  platform  and 


106 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


took  the  evangelist  Howard  in  his  arms,  raised  him 
from  his  feet,  and  moved  hke  a  heavy  cyclone  and 
took  the  writer  in  his  arms,  and  with  us  both,  he 
moved  to  the  third  preacher,  colored,  standing  by. 
We  were  all  three  now  in  his  arms  at  his  sweet  mercy, 
lielpless,  such  was  the  wonderful  strength  God  put, 
with  healing,  into  this  hitherto  weak,  yet  physically 
large,  stout  built  man.  This  is  only  a  faint  descrip- 
tion of  some  of  the  glories  of  our  wonder-working 
God  as  there  manifest." 

Once  when  Mr.  Howard  had  been  riding  in  the  cold 
all  day,  he  stopped  for  dinner  at  the  home  of  a  good 
sister  in  Orleans,  Nebraska.  While  the  dinner  was  in 
preparation  one  of  Mr.  Howard's  t^eth  began  to  ache. 
The  longer  it  continued,  the  more  severe  became  the 
pain.  The  good  sister  finally  said,  ''Brother  Howard, 
let  us  get  down  and  ask  God  to  stop  that  toothache." 
''I  can't,"  he  replied.  The  sister  was  surprised  at  his 
answer,  and  was  slow  to  yield  her  point.  The  pain 
•continued,  and  at  times  was  excruciating.  The  sister 
now  abandoned  the  dinner  getting,  and  insisted  on 
having  a  season  of  prayer  for  the  tooth.  Mr.  Howard 
still  persisted  that  he  could  not  ask  God  to  stop  the 
pain.  The  sister  said,  ''Now,  Brother  Howard,  that 
isn't  the  way  you  preach.  Tell  me  why  you  can't." 
They  were  living  on  the  square  in  plain  view  of  all  the 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


107 


stores  and  business  houses.  He  took  her  to  the  win- 
dow and  pointing  across  the  street,  said,  "Do  you  see 
that  dentist  sign  yonder?"  ''Yes,"  repHed  the  sister, 
"but  what  of  that?"  "Well,  I  can't  ask  God  to  stop  that 
old  hollow  tooth  from  aching  as  long  as  I  am  so  near 
that  dentist's  office.  It  is  an  old  tooth  that  has  both- 
ered me  for  years.  I  have  wished  it  was  out,  but  to 
tell  you  the  truth  I  am  too  big  a  coward  to  face  those 
forceps.  If  I  was  away  from  this  dentist  out  upon 
^some  desert,  I  could  conscientiously  ask  the  Lord  to 
relieve  the  pain  with  some  degree  of  assurance.  As 
it  is  I  can't.  The  tooth  ought  to  be  out,  and  my 
better  good  sense  says  it  ought,  but  I  am  just  too  big 
a  coward  to  have  it  done.  Now,  if  you  will  get  down 
with  me,  and  ask  God  to  give  me  backbone,  grit  and 
■zeal  to  face  those  forceps,  I  will  pray  with  you.  I  am 
too  close  to  that  dentist's  ofifice  to  ask  God  to  stop  the 
pain."  This  will  vividly  illustrate  Mr.  Howard's 
views  upon  Divine  Healing  as  herein  set  forth. 


108 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  XVL 

MARVELOUS  ANSWERS  TO  PRAYER. 

"If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in  you,  ye 
shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you." 
Jno.  15:7. 

During  the  Conference  Camp-meeting  held  near 
Raymond,  Kansas,  many  wonderful  cases  of  demon- 
stration occurred.  There  was  a  lady  in  attendance  who- 
became  much  incensed  at  them.  One  night  when 
^  some  were  being  prostrated  under  the  Spirit's  power,, 
this  sister,  being  urged  to  pray,  began,  and  in  her  own 
words  said,  "If  this  screaming  and  falling  is  of  thee,, 
let  me  know  it  by  knocking  me  over."  Instantly  she 
w^as  slain  by  the  Lord,  and  was  as  dead,  apparently,, 
as  if  she  were  in  the  cofifin.  After  lying  for  some 
time,  she  sprang  to  her  feet  blessedly  saved.  She  lived 
about  ten  miles  from  the  meeting.  Every  few  minutes 
of  the  journey  home,  she  would  give  vent  to  her  feel- 
ings in  shouts  of  praise.  *  This  forever  cured  her  aver- 
sion to  noise,  shoutings,  and  falling. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


109 


Chintz-bugs  Destroyed. 
One  Alarch  morning  Mr.  Howard,  in  company  with 
Rev.  C.  M.  Damon,  was  walking  over  the  farm  of  Fa- 
ther Dopps,  in  Norton  county,  Kansas.  The  chintz- 
bugs  were  very  severe.  They  destroyed  everything 
before  them.  Their  numbers  were  so  great  that  the 
ground  seemed  ahve  with  them.  Rev.  Damon  re- 
marked to  Mr.  Howard,  ''Is  not  this  too  bad.  Brother 
Dopps  is  poor,  and  needs  this  crop  so  much.  The 
next  morning  Brother  Damon,  in  family  worship, 
asked  the  Lord,  in  some  way,  to  spare  the  crop.  He 
became  so  intensely  earnest,  and  so  got  a  hold  on  God 
by  faith,  that  he  fairly  screamed  in  his  prayer.  That^ 
night  God  sent  a  severe  blizzard  with  sleet.  The  ice 
completely  covered  the  ground,  and  lay  for  about 
forty-eight  hours.  It  was  stinging  cold.  After  the 
storm  had  passed  away  a  live  chintz-bug  could  not  be 
found  anywhere.  The  people  of  that  country  firmly 
believe  till  this  day  the  Lord  wrought  this  in  answer 
to  prayer.  A  bountiful  crop  was  harvested  that  year 
from  this  field. 

It  Rained  Fish. 
In  a  colored  settlement  at  Nicodemus  there  was 
want  and  suffering.    The  dry  weather  followed  by 
the  grasshoppers  had  destroyed  every  means  of  sup- 
port.   This  people  were  ignorant.    They  didn't  have 


110 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


the  necessary  appliances,  with  which  to  make  them- 
selves a  livelihood.  In  this  their  time  of  need  they  called 
upon  God.  In  much  earnestness  did  they  make  their 
wants  known.  %  The  Lord  wdio  hears  before  we  speak^** 
and  answers  while  we  are  yet  calling  miraculously  pro- 
vided for  their  needs.  A  stream  was  running  near 
in  which  this  people  had  oft  before  fished,  but  never 
caught  anything.  They  now  searched  its  waters  and 
found  fish  in  an  abundance.  Their  size  and  quality  were 
more  than  could  be  expected.  Those  colored  people 
in  their  simpHcity  declare  they  were  rained  into  that 
stream  by  power  divine.  'For  this  they  never  ceased: 
to  love  and  praise  their  Savior. 

A  Young  Lady  Died. 
A  revival  being  held  by  Mr.  Howard  in  Iowa,  was. 
greatly  hindered  by  the  actions  of  two  young  women. 
They  persisted  in  having  a  dance  every  night  as  near 
as  possible  to  the  meeting.  The  pilgrims  united  their 
prayers  and  faith  in  asking  God  to  either  save  the 
girls,  or,  if  they  had  sinned  away  their  day  of  grace,, 
to  remove  them  out  of  the  way,  that  the  work  of  the 
Lord  be  not  longer  flagrantly  opposed.  In  less  than 
a  week  one  of  these  girls  was  a  corpse.  The  other 
came  near  dying,  but  recovered,  and  was  sweetly 
saved.  *  "It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  ot  * 
the  living  God." 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


Ill 


A  Man  Prayed  Under  Conviction. 
One  night,  during  the  above  revival,  Mr.  Howard, 
in  the  course  of  a  sermon,  made  the  following  remark: 
''There  is  one  thing  God  can  do  in  spite  of  men.  In 
answer  to  the  prayer  of  saints,  he  will  send  conviction 
upon  people,  whether  they  desire  it  or  not."  An  in- 
dividual in  the  congregation  arose  and  said,  "Here  is 
a  good  case,  try  me."  At  this  Mr.  Howard  jumped 
to  his  feet  and  exclaimed,  "'The  Bible  declares,  'That 
if  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth  as  touching  any  thing 
that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for  them  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven.'  Now,  if  I  can  get  another 
person  to  unite  their  faith  with  mine,  this  man  wall  be 
saved,  or  the  Lord  will  take  him  out  of  the  way."  A 
good  brother  jumped  to  his  feet,  came  forward,  took 
Mr.  Howard  by  the  hand,  and  said,  'T  am  your  man." 
Thenextday  they  both  went  to  a  cornfield, and  engaged 
in  pr;^.yer  for  this  man.  They  pleaded  with  God  till  he 
came  upon  them  in  power.  The  praises  of  God  were 
shouted  by  them  as  they  declared,  "The  Lord  has  un- 
dertaken the  brother's  case."  The  next  night,  the 
subject  of  their  prayer  was  in  attendance  upon  the 
meeting/  That  the  Spirit  of  God  was  working  upon 
his  heart  was  evident  to  all.  The  next  night  he  came 
as  pale  as  death.  At  the  close  of  the  service  he  arose 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  said,    "You  have  prayed  * 


112 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


this  awful  feeling  over  me,  now  pray  it  off."  His  con- 
victions became  so  intense  it  was  necessary  to  con- 
stantly watch  him,  that  he  might  be  kept  from  com- 
mitting suicide.  For  three  days  he  could  neither  eat 
nor  sleep.  Finally  deliverance  came.  One  morning 
at  breakfast  time,  while  sitting  with  the  family  at  the 
table,  the  Spirit  of  God  came  upon  him,  and,  in  spring- 
ing from  his  chair,  he  upset  the  table.  He  went  all 
around  the  house  praising  his  Jesus ;  then  down 
through  the  corrall,  rejoicing  at  every  step.  '  Ever  af- 
terward a  constant  Christian  life  was  lived  by  him. 
Not  long  since  he  died  and  went  to  glory. 

God's  Care  For  His  Children. 

In  an  early  day,  while  Mr.  Howard  was  living  in 
formalism,^  God  sent  a  man  to  pray  with  him."  The 
good  brother  had  blistered  his  feet  in  making  the 
journey.  Having  arrived  he  inquired  if  this  was  the 
home  of  ]\Ir.  Howard.  Being  answered  in  the  af- 
firmative, he  said,  VThe  Lord  sent  me  to  see  you^' 
Mr.  Howard  was  surprised,  for  he  had  not  been  ac- 
customed to  hear  it  on  this  wise.  This  good  brother 
had  started  for  his  home  in  IlHnois,  but  had  no  money 
with  which  to  pay  his  passage.  He  had  been  asking 
the  Lord  all  that  day  that  some  way  might  be  opened 
up  for  him  to  reach  his  family. 

When  evening  came  the  good  brother  read  a  chap- 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


113 


ter  in  the  Bible,  and  offered  prayer.  While  he  was 
praying  Mr.  Howard  thought  the  heavens,  and  the  ^ 
earth  were  coming  together.  '  His  words  burned  like 
/  fire  upon  every  heart.  They  all  retired,  but  sleep  re- 
fused to  come  to  the  eyes  of  Mr.  Howard.  He  tossed 
to  and  fro  the  whole  night.  God  was  talking  to 
him.  The  command  was  to  give  the  good  brother  / 
five  dollars.  It  was  the  only  money  he  had,  and  was 
laid  away  in  case  of  an  emergency.  Being  very  poor 
in  this  world's  goods  at  that  time,  he  could  neither  see 
its  advisability  nor  propriety.  And  besides  he  was 
exceedingly  stingy.  P>equently,  when  his  wife, 
who  always  gave  a  tenth  of  her  income,  would 
give  twenty-five  or  fifty  cents  to  some  benevolent  col- 
lection, he  would  grieve  and  worry  about  it  all  the 
next  day.  The  covetous  spirit  was  in  his  heart,  hence 
he  considered  the  money  no  better  than  thrown  away. 

The  Holy  Spirit  continued  to  give  him  no  rest.  A 
voice  from  the  Divine  One  said,  ''You  must  give  the 
good  brother  that  five  dollars."  •  Thus  the  fierce  men- 
tal agony  continued.  Because. of  his  restlessness,  sev- 
eral times  during  the  night,  his  wife  asked  him,  ''Hus- 
band, what  is  the  matter."  He  would  always  avoid  an 
r^nswer,  fearing  that  if  his  wife  knew^  the  nature  of  the 
trouble  she  would  have  him  give  the  money  to  the 
good  brother.  ^  Before  morning  that  money  seemed 


114 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


to  fairly  burn  in  his  pocket.  He  arose  early,  not 
knowing  what  else  to  do,  for  the  trouble  of  heart  and 
mind  was  so  great  no  rest  could  be  obtained.  Repair- 
ing to  the  barn,  he  was  busily  engaged  with  his  chores . 
when  his  wife  came  to  do  the  milking.  All  this  while 
his  conviction  had  been  deepening  upon  him,  till  now 
it  was  intense.  Thinking  he  could  not  make  it  any 
w^orse  he  said  to  his  wife,  ''Either  the  Lord  or  the 
devil  wants  me  to  give  the  good  brother  the  five  dol- 
lars v/e  have.''  "I  thought  there  was  something  the 
matter  with  you  during  the  night,''  said  she.  '-'You  , 
had  better  go  quick  and  give  it  to  him."  "But,  wife," 
he  remonstrated,  "that  is  every  cent  of  money  we 
have."  /Let  him  have  it,"  she  replied,  ''and  it  will 
give  the  Lord  a  good  chance  to  give  it  back." 

The  good  brother  was  standing  at  the  w^ood  pile 
near  by.  Mr.  Howard  went  to  him  and  said,  "Here 
is  five  dollars  the  Lord  told  me  to  give  you."  "Are 
you  sure  it  is  of  the  Lord?"  asked  the  man,  "O,  I  am 
very  sure,"  replied  Mr.  How^ard,  "for  it  has  burned  in  ^ 
my  pocket  all  the  night."  Having  been  asking  the 
Lord  to  provide  him  a  w^ay  home, he  was  now  overjoyed. 
In  the  gratitude  of  his  heart  he  fell  upon  his  knees 
on  the  wood  pile,  and  poured  out  his  soul  to  God. 
During  his  prayer,  while  tears  w^ere  streaming  down 
his  face,  he  said,  "Lord,  thou  knowest  this  man  is 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


115 


poor,  and  not  able  to  give  this  money.  Here  is  his 
children  ragged,  his  wife  barefooted,  and  they  hardly 
have  enough  to  eat."  In  great  earnestness  he  contin- 
ued,/'O,  Lord,  in  some  way  repay  the  donor  of  this 
money.  Grant  that  thy  mercy  may  be  extended  to. 
him."  Mr.  Howard  now  went  to  the  barn  in  great 
haste.  I  He  could  not  stand  the  power  of  God  in  such  f 
pleading.    It  melted  his  heart  into  tears. 

The  night  before  all  arrangements  had  been  made 
to  take  the  good  brother  to  the  train  in  the  morning. 
They  were  made  before  there  had  been  any  mention 
of  money.  /-  He  simply  stepped  forward,  and  trusted 
the  Lord  for  his  leadings.  No  hint  had  been  let  slip 
by  the  good  brother  that  he  was  without  means.  God 
alone  was  guiding  by  his  all-wise  hand. 

After  breakfast  Mr.  Howard  told  his  two  little  boys 
to  fetch  the  horses  from  the  pasture.  The  dog  went 
along.  In  a  brush  patch  below  the  orchard  he  found 
a  wolf.  One  of  the  boys  ran  back  to  the  house  and 
told  his  father.  He  took  his  gun,  went  down  to  the 
pasture,  found  the  wolf,  and  shot  it.  He  then  re- 
moved the  scalp  and  preserved  it.  The  team  was  now 
harnessed  and  they  made  ready  to  start  for  the  de- 
pot. In  going  they  passed  the  Court  House.  Mr. 
Howard  jumped  out,  went  in,  and  threw  down  his 
wolf  scalp.    At  this  time  there  was  a  premium  upon 


116 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


every  wolf  killed,  hence  the  County  Clerk  passed  him 
out  a  five  dollar  bill.  ^  Immediately  the  Hght  of  God's  * 
protecting  care  burst  in  upon  his  soul.  He  saw  for 
the  first  tim.e  how  the  *Lord  could  open  up  the  win-' 
dows  of  heaven  and  most  graciously  supply  his  child's 
every  need.  The  good  brother  was  safely  started  on 
his  journey,  and  Mr.  Howard  returned  to  his  home. 
Being  completely  overcome  he  wept  the  whole  of  the 
way.  His  feelings  were  so  wrought  upon  that  he 
stopped  on  the  road,  went  into  a  fence  corner,  and 
poured  out  his  soul  unto  the  Lord.  For  weeks  after 
this,  it  never  recurred  to  him  without  his  sensibilities 
being  wrought  upon.  ^Tears  would  come  to  his  eyes, 
and  his  soul  be, submerged  with  gratitude. 

The  Lord  had  used  a  most  unexpected  means  to  re- 
pay Mr.  Howard.  It  forever  cured  him  of  a  covetous, 
stingy  spirit.  He  was  made  to  realize  that  "It  is 
more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


117 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

TOUHCING  INCIDENTS. 

"Where  is  My  Wandering  Boy?" 

During  a  very  successful  revival  that  Mr.  Howard 
held  in  a  flourishing  Kansas  town,  two  young  men, 
fell,  one  night,  in  the  aisle  of  the  church,  and  lay  there 
under  the  power  of  God,  for  some  time.  He  went  and 
pleaded  with  them  to  yield  to  the  Lord, come  to  the  al- 
tar, and  be  saved.  The  one  submitted  to  Christ  and 
was  converted,  but,  alas,  what  became  of  the  other? 
He  would  have  his  way.  He  said  ''No."  to  God  once 
too  often.  A  short  time  after  this  there  was  some 
kind  of  a  gathering  at  this  same  school  house.  A  dis- 
turbance of  some  kind  occurred  in  which  this  young 
man  was  impHcated.  He  drew  a  knife,  and  thrust  it 
through  the  heart  of  his  comrade,  killing  him  instant- 
ly. He  fled  from  the  law  and  was  gone  for  three  years, 
wdien  his  whereabouts  were  discovered  in  Arizona.  He 
was  arrested, tried,convicted,and  sentenced  to  the  peni- 


118 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


tentiary  for  life.  All  this  resulted  because  he  said, 
"Not  to-night."  Verily  the  way  of  the  transgressor  is 
hard.  A  few  years  after  this  Mr.  Howard  visited  that 
penitentiary,  and  asked  permission  of  the  Warden  to 
see  this  boy.  It  was  granted,  and  he  proceeded  to 
find  him.  When  the  eyes  of  the  young  man  fell  upon 
Mr.  Howard,  he  ran  and  threw  his  arms  about  his 
neck,  and  cried  as  if  his  heart  would  break.  ''Oh," 
said  he,  ''if  I  only  had  taken  your  advice  that  night 
you  urged  me  to  seek  God,  I  would  not  be  here." 
Poor  boy !  Like  many  others,  he  saw  his  mistake 
when  it  was  too  late.  The  boy's  mother  was  saved  in 
the  meeting  in  which  he  rejected  offered  mercy.  She 
died  a  few  years  afterward  and  went  home  to  glory. 
Her  dying  query  was,  "Where  is  my  wandering  boy?" 

"Papa,  Fm  Not  Afraid  of  You  To-night." 

A  poor  man  who  had  drunk  up  all  his  living,  and 
was  a  total  wreck  mentally  and  physically,  was  in  at- 
tendance upon  a  revival  held  by  Mr.  Howard.  He 
was  powerfully  convicted  to  give  his  heart  to  God. 
When  an  altar  call  was  made  he  came  forward,  and, 
meeting  Mr.  Howard,  said  to  him,  "Do  you  think  there 
is  enough  left  of  me  to  be  saved?  I  have  sunken  so 
low  that  I  did  not  know  whether  Jesus  would  under- 
take my  case."     "You  are  the    very    one  Jesus 


REVIVAL  EFFOET. 


119 


came  to  seek,"  replied  ]\Ir.  Howard.  "He  didn't 
come  to  save  good  folks,  but  bad  ones."  At  this  the 
man  fell  upon  his  knees  and  began  to  plead  for  mercy. 
In  a  short  time  he  was  brightly  saved.  \\'hen  the 
meeting  closed  he  invited  ]\Ir.  Howard  to  go  home 
with  him.  It  was  accepted  before  he  had  time  to  think 
Avhat  the  consequences  might  be.  The  good  people 
came  and  remonstrated  with  him,  saying,  "That  man 
can't  keep  you.  He  hasn't  anything  in  his  house,  not 
even  a  chair  to  sit  on."  "Well,"  said  'Mr.  Howard, 
'T  have  promised  him  to  go.  I  can  put  up  with  it  one 
night."  As  they  proceeded  toward  this  miserable 
home  the  man  continued  to  shout  and  praise  God. 
As  they  entered  the  yard,  the  loose  boards  in  the  path 
rattled  at  every  step.  At  this  a  shuffling  was  heard 
from  within.  They  opened  the  door  and  entered.  In 
one  corner  of  the  room  stood  a  poor,  heart-broken, 
terror-stricken  wife,  with  clenched  hands  and  pale 
face.  The  husband  ran  to  his  wife  and  said,  "The 
Lord  has  saved  me.  Don't  be  afraid  of  me  now." 
She  fell  upon  her  knees  and  cried,  "Oh,  God,  can  this 
be  true?''  "Where  is  the  Bible^"  said  the  husband. 
'M  have  never  prayed  in  ni}'  liome,  and  now  I  intend 
to."  At  this  three  little  ragged  children  came  out 
from  under  the  bed.  They  had  heard  their  papa  as  he 
w^as  coming  up  the  walk,  and,  supposing  him  to  be  in 


120 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


a  drunken  rage  as  usual,  they  took  refuge  under  the 
bed.  One  of  the  little  girls  hopped  upon  her  father's 
knee,  and  exclaimed  with  such  sublime  tenderness  and 
pathos  as  would  have  melted  a  heart  of  stone,  "Papa,. 
I'm  not  afraid  of  you  to-night."  The  Lord  had  taken  * 
the  lion  spirit  out  of  the  man,  and  put  the  lamb-like 
spirit  in  its  place,  so  that  a  Httle  child  could  lead  him. 
His  wife  was  still  exclaiming,  "Can  this  be  so ;  is  it 
true?"  The  husband  went  to  her,  and  throwing  his 
arms  around  her,  said,  "Can  you  ever  forgive  me  for 
the  way  I  have  treated  you?"  "I  freely  forgive  it  all," 
she  repHed.  Kneeling  there  upon  the  bare  floor  of 
that  destitute  home,  Christ  spoke  peace  to  her  troubled 
soul.  Such  rejoicing  that  home  had  never  seen  be- 
fore. The  desolate  cottage  where  want  and  sorrow 
had  reigned  supreme  was  now  transformed  into  a 
heaven  on  earth.  This  man  became  a  useful  mem- 
ber of  society,  regained  his  former  industrious  habits, 
and  became  well-to-do.  *  His  home  became  a  pleasant  • 
stopping  place  for  God's  ministers. 

The  Triumphs  of  a  Saint. 

At  an  early  day  Mr.  Howard  was  traveling  in  North 
West  Kansas.  Not  much  could  be  seen,  but  sod 
houses  and  bufifalo  grass.  One  day,  about  noon,  he 
stopped  near  one  of  these  buildings  to  lariat  his  ponies,. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


121 


that  they  might  feed.  Having  provided  for  them  he 
proceeded  to  the  house  hoping  to  obtain  something 
to  eat,  as  he  was  very  hungry.  Having  made  his  re- 
quest known,  the  woman,  a  widow,  who  resided  here 
with  her  Httle  daughter,  asked,  "Are  you  not  a  min- 
ister?" "I  am,"  repHed  he.  Her  eyes  fiUed  with 
tears  as  she  communicated  to  him  that  there  was  noth- 
ing in  the  house  to  eat  except  a  httle  bran.  This  was 
too  much  for  Mr.  How^ard.  He  became  very  much  af- 
fected, as  he  requested  her  to  bake  a  cake  of  the  bran, 
and  s.aid,  "We  wiU  partake  of  it  together."  This  she 
proceeded  to  do.  When  the  simple  repast  was  ready, 
they  congregated  around  the  frugal  board.  Having 
returned  thanks  Mr.  Howard  looked  at  the  bran  cake, 
at  the  widow,  and  then  at  the  little  girl.  He  could  not 
eat,  the  Spirit  of  God  so  pervaded  the  very  atmos- 
phere of  the  room.  Shoving  back  from  the  table,  he 
dropped  upon  his  knees,  and  with  streaming  eyes». 
poured  out  his  soul  unto  the  Lord.  Oh,  how  the  pre- 
cious Savior  did  come  to  that  humble  dwelling.  It 
was  in  wondrous  power  and  glory.  His  ineffable  pres- 
ence seemed  to  make  supernatural  everything  pres- 
ent. Materiality  partook  of  that  which  was  immate- 
rial, heavenly,  and  even  divine.  They  then  surround- 
ed the  table  again,  and  satisfied  their  hunger  with  the 
simple  meal.     To  Mr.  Howard  no  meal  ever  tasted 


122 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


better,  no  food  ever  seemed  more  nourishing,  and  no 
repast  ever  looked  more  delicious.  And  certainly 
heaven  never  seemed  so  near  as  it  did  that  day  in  the 
Htlle  sod  house  on  the  western  prairies  with  the  lonely 
widow  and  her  little  daughter.  If  that  saint  of  God 
could  rejoice  and  be  exceeding  happy  under  those  con- 
ditions how  much  we  ought  to  praise  the  Lord,  who 
have  every  thing  heart  could  wish. 

"Vm  Dying  Without  a  Ray  of  Hope." 

Three  of  Mr.  Howard's  brothers  enlisted  in  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion.  One  of  them  had  been  very  sick  in 
the  hospital  for  some  time.  He  finally  received  his 
discharge  but  was  too  feeble  to  come  home.  Mr. 
Howard  went  after  him.  Having  reached  the  hospi- 
tal, he  walked  down  the  long  aisle  looking  on  either 
side  at  the  sick,  dead,  and  dying.  Many  scenes  were 
so  vividly  impressed  upon  his  mind  that,  to-day,  he  re- 
calls them  with  freshness.  "  One  in  particular  will 
never  fade  from  his  memory.  Over  to  one  side  of 
the  aisle  he  saw  a  poor  boy  breathing  his  last.  As 
he  stood  looking  at  him,  a  woman  crowded  by,  and 
soon  had  the  dying  boy  in  her  embrace.  His  mind 
being  clear,  he  said  in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  ''Mother, 
I'm  dying  now,  and  without  a  ray  of  hope.  Oh !  how 
I  wish  I  had  taken  your  advice ;  how  glad  I  would  be. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT 


123 


but  I  am  lost!  lost!  lost!"  He  expired  in  his  mother's 
arms  with  shrieks  and  groans  upon  his  lips  such  as  Mr. 
Howard  never  cared  to  hear  again. 

Mr.  Howard's  Son,  Arba. 

During  a  revival  in  North  West  Kansas,  Mr.  How- 
ard became  deeply  burdened  for  his  son  Arba,  who  was 
then  attending  school  about  twenty  miles  away.  The 
burden  became  so  heavy  that  he  could  neither  eat  nor 
sleep.  One  cold  morning  wdien  the  snow  was  about  a 
foot  in  depth,  he  left  the  house  where  he  was  staying, 
and  went  to  the  river  bottom  near  by,  where  he  fell 
prostrate  in  the  snow.  Here  he  called  upon  God  to 
■save  that  boy.  He  received  a  witness  as  clear  as  the 
hght  that  the  desire  of  his  soul  would  be  granted. 

The  next  day  the  son  left  school  and  went  home. 
He  said  to  his  mother,  ''Ever  since  yesterday  it  has 
seemed  to  me  that  I  am  going  to  die."  She  told  him  to 
go  where  his  father  was  conducting  a  revival.  Look- 
ing out  through  the  window  the  next  day,  Mr.  How- 
ard saw  his  son  coming.  Having  arrived  at  the  house 
he  threw  his  arms  about  his  father's  neck,  and  with 
tears  in  his  eyes,  exclaimed,  'Tt  seems  to  me  I  am  go- 
ing to  die.  What  shall  I  do?"  His  father  said, 
^'Arba,  the  Lord  is  calling  you.  Give  yourself  to  him 
as  quickly  as  possible.    Oh,  don't  delay !"    That  night 


124 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


he  was  the  first  to  come  when  the  altar  call  was 
given.  Among  many  others  he  was  blessedly  saved. 
After  this  he  lived  an  humble  Christian  Hfe.  He 
preached  the  gospel  one  year,  died  in  the  triumphs  of 
faith,  and  went  home  to  be  with  Jesus. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT 


125 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

OTHER  INCIDENTS. 

Saved  in  the  Mud. 

While  Mr.  Howard  was  holding  his  revival  upon 
the  Sappa  river,  a  heavy  rain  fell.  It  swelled  the  river 
out  of  her  banks.  The  tabernacle  being  only  a  few 
rods  from  the  river,  the  water  backed  up  into  it. 
It  stood  there  several  feet  deep,  till  the  table,  straw, 
seating  and  appurtenances  thereof  were  all  afloat. 
The  curtains  being  well  staked  down,  nothing  floated 
away.  The  next  day  after  the  rain  the  water  fell  suf- 
ficient to  run  from  the  tabernacle.  When  the  time  ar- 
rived for  the  evening  service  the  ground  was  still  very 
sloppy,  with  little  pools  of  water  here  and  there.  De- 
spite all  this  long  before  sun  down  the  tabernacle  was 
filled  with  people  anxiously  waiting  for  services  to  be- 
gin. Some  had  swum  the  river  in  order  to  attend  the 
meeting.  Mr.  Howard  hardly  knew  whether  it  was 
advisable  to  hold  the  people  in  such  an  uncomfortable 
place  or  dismiss  them,  with  a  pressing  invitation  to  re- 
turn the  next    evening.     He  entered  the  tabernacle 


126 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


and  began  to  speak.  The  power  of  God  so  fell  upon 
the  people  and  speaker,  that  they  were  swayed  by  his 
gracious  words  as  before  a  mighty  tempest.  He  said 
to  them,  "If  any  person  is  sufficiently  desirous  of  sal- 
vation to  come  forward  and  stand  by  me,  we  will  pray 
for  you,  and  as  best  we  can,  point  you  to  the  Savior.'^ 
About  twenty  came.  Regardless  of  the  mud  and  wa- 
ter, they  flung  themselves  on  the  ground  and  began 
to  cry  for  mercy.  A  good  brother  Van  Hoosen  threw 
his  overcoat  on  the  ground  for  the  women  to  kneel 
upon.  Sin  burdened  souls  agonized  for  deliverance, 
and  was  made  to  rejoice  in  a  new  found  grace,  some 
of  whom  are  yet  standing  upon  the  walls  of  Zion  pro- 
claiming the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord,  who  were 
saved  that  night.  When  men  and  women  are  as 
much  in  earnest  as  were  these  they  do  not  easily  back- 
slide. Somehow  they  are  so  ''thoroughly"  saved  that 
the  beggarly  elements  of  the  world  have  no  more  at- 
tractions. 

Falling  into  a  Well. 

The  first  night  of  the  meeting  upon  the  Solomon 
river  Mr.  Howard  was  invited  to  an  unsaved  home  for 
entertainment.  Also  the  second  night.  In  going 
home  they  had  to  cross  the  river.  There  were  several 
persons  in  the  wagon.    A  heavy    fog  had  intensified 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


127 


the  darkness  of  that  night  till  the  horses  could  scarcely 
be  seen.  Their  host  took  special  delight  in  attempt- 
ing to  scare  them,  but  they  succeeded  in  crossing  the 
stream  without  any  mishap.  Having  come  up  on  the 
other  bank  he  continued  his  attempts  to  affright  by  ex- 
claiming, "There  is  an  old  well  in  this  bottom.  We  all 
would  feel  funny  if  we  should  fall  into  it."  No  sooner 
had  he  made  this  remark  than  both  horses  went  tumb- 
ling into  the  well.  There  was  an  awful  scrambling 
and  floundering  for  a  few  moments,  when  all  became 
silent.  The  darkness  was  so  intense  nothing  could  be 
seen.  The  man  broke  for  the  house,  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  away  for  a  light.  Mr.  Howard  called  after 
him  to  fetch  a  spade.  Having  returned  with  them  they 
discovered  that  the  wagon  tongue  was  broken ;  also 
that  the  horses  were  standing  on  their  hind  feet  in  the 
well.  It  was  unwalled,  and  just  large  enough  to  admit 
the  team.  The  animals  were  very  nearly  suspended 
by  their  collars  and  harness.  Had  the  well  been  any 
deeper,  the  team  would  have  certainly  hanged  itself, 
and  also  dragged  the  whole  load  into  the  well  with 
them.  The  occupants  of  the  wagon  would  have  been 
trampled  to  death  under  the  feet  of  the  horses. 

By  spading  in  the  side  of  the  well,  the  falling  earth 
being  trampled  by  the  team,  they  were  soon  rescued. 
It  was  a  narrow  escape,  and  a  strong  reminder  to  Mr. 


128 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


Chapman  and  his  wife  that  they  should  continue  no 
longer  in  their  present  unsaved  condition.  She  after- 
wards declared  that  hell  could  not  seem  more  real  to 
her  than  it  did  that  night.  The  Lord  used  this  as  a 
means  for  awakening  those  sin-blinded  persons. 

A  Come-Outer  Rescued. 

At  the  Greely  revival  many  were  saved.  Among 
the  number  was  Rev.  G.  W.  Saunders,  a  "professional 
come-outer."  When  the  clear  Hght  of  God  was  re- 
vealed to  him,  he  saw  that  much  of  his  profession  was 
empty,  and  that  he  lacked  the  melting  power  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  He  said,  'T  can  never  preach  again  un- 
til I  have  the  fire.''  He  fell  to  the  floor  screaming  to 
God  for  help.  God  gave  him  the  desire  of  his  heart, 
and  he  sprang  to  his  feet  shouting,  and  praising  the 
Lord.  He  followed  this  wath  a  stirring  exhortation. 
While  he  was  speaking,  a  church-going  man  fell  under 
the  influence  of  his  exhortation,  and  was  brought  into 
the  Master's  fold.  After  obtaining  this  experience. 
Brother  Saunders  became  a  shining  light  for  the  Lord. 
After  his  glorious  deliverance,  he  wrote  a  little  pamph- 
let entitled, ''An  Exposition  of  Come-Outism."  On  page 
30  he  says,  ''I  had  been  called  to  preach,  and  began 
preaching  in  June,  1884  1  soon  lost  the  sweet- 
ness out  of  my  soul,  and  would,  at  times,  say  some 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


129 


hard  things  about  the  churches.    I  became  confirmed 

in  the  no-sect  doctrine  I  failed  to  teh  the  people 

of  the  power  of  Christ  to  save,  but  urged  them  to  get 

out  of  the  churches  I  felt  led  to  come  to  Kansas, 

and  did  so  in    the  winter  of  1884-5,  soon  came 

across  the  Free  Methodist  people.  My  brother-in-law 
told  me  they  had  more  fire  than  the  holiness  people  of 
Missouri.  I  did  not  like  to  hear  that  from  my  no- 
sect  brother,  but  did  not  say  anything.  I  preached 
against  Free  Methodism  because  it  was  an  organized 
hody,  not  knowing  any  thing  about  their  experience 
except  hearsay.  I  soon  met  with  one.  Brother  G.  B. 
Howard,  of  that  denomination.  I  heard  him  preach 
several  times,  and  saw  that  he  was  a  man  full  of  faith 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  having  zeal,  boldness,  gentle- 
ness, and  love.  I  really  found  myself  in  secret  seek- 
ing, not  his  experience,  but  one  that  I  was  convinced 
God  had  for  me.  I  saw  I  was  bitter  when  op- 
posed. I  had  not  that  melting  influence  that  I  once 
had.    I  sought  God  and  obtained  the  fire.    Praise  his 

name  !  I  soon  united    with  the  Free  Methodist 

Connection." 

''Every  Ray  of  Hope  Is  Gone." 
In  the  Argonia  revival  a  young  man  was  brought 
tinder  great  conviction.      He  could  neither  eat  nor 
.sleep.    Notwithstanding  all  this  he  refused  to  let  God 


130 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


save  him.  He  arose  in  one  of  the  meetings  a  few  days 
after  this,  and  said,  ''My  chance  for  heaven  has  passed. 
My  heart  is  as  hard  as  a  stone.  Every  ray  of  hope  is 
gone.''  What  an  awful  feehng  with  which  to  be. ush- 
ered into  eternity,  and  there  have  to  meet  God  at  the 
judgment.  The  Good  Book  says,  ''My  Spirit  shall 
not  always  strive  with  man." 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


131 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

POINTED  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

A  seared  conscience  is  like  a  careless  sleeper.  To 
illustrate.  An  alarm  clock  may  be  set  for  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  placed  near  the  sleeper's  head. 
When  it  goes  ofif  the  first  time  it  will  almost  scare  the 
man  out  of  bed.  He  may  lay  still  and  sleep  on.  Re- 
peat the  act  the  next  night,  and  the  individual  will  not 
be  scared  half  so  much.  This  time  he  turns  over  and 
goes  to  sleep  easily.  Follow  the  same  routine  the  third 
night,  and  the  person  isn't  frightened  at  all.  After 
this  that  clock  may  rattle  its  morning  signal,  but  the 
man  will  sleep  on  heedless  of  its  noise.  The  unsaved 
can  grieve  the  Holy  Spirit  by  repelling  its  tender  woo- 
ings  until  they  can  sit  under  the  most  scorching  truths 
of  the  gospel,  and  go  sound  to  sleep.  They  have  heard 
God's  alarm  clock  till  it  has  lost  its  power. 

Many  people  are  continually  wondering  why  their 
prayers  are  not  answered — why  a  hearing  is  not  grant- 


132 


TWENTY  YEAKS  OF 


ed  them  at  the  bar  of  God.  If  a  man  wished  to  trans- 
mit a  message  from  Topeka,  to  his  wife  in  Kansas 
City,  he  would  take  it  to  the  telegraph  operator  in  the 
first  named  city  and  request  him  to  send  it.  The  man 
sits  down  and  begins  to  work  the  transmitter.  Pres- 
ently he  looks  up  and  says  ''The  wires  are  down.  No 
telegram  can  pass  through."  That  man  may  work 
that  instrument  till  he  is  gray  headed,  and  no  dispatch 
can  be  delivered.  The  broken  wires  must  be  connected 
first.  The  difficulty  with  so  many  professed  Chris- 
tians is  here  evidenced.  They  continue  to  call  upon 
God — fumble  at  the  keys — but  receive  nothing.  The 
fact  in  the  case  is  that  the  spiritual  wire  between  them- 
selves and  God  has  been  down  for  years.  They  will 
never  be  of  service  as  soul  winners,  except  the  connec- 
tion be  made.  They  will  then  get  a  hearing  in  heaven, 
and  God  will  be  heard  on  earth. 
V  A  passenger  train  was  waiting  at  a  depot  hotel  for 
dinner.  Mr.  Howard  and  a  number  of  others  were 
standing  on  the  outside  in  readiness  for  the  train  to 
start.  The  time  to  leave  having  arrived,the  conductor 
spoke  to  the  engineer,  saying,  ''Are  you  ready?  Have 
you  a  sufficient  head  of  steam?"  'T  have  enough  with 
v^hich  to  start.  There  are  sixty  pounds,"  replied  the 
engineer.  The  signal  to  start  was  given,  but  two  or 
three  efforts  were  made  before  the  train  would  move. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


133 


When  Mr.  Howard  looked  at  that  long  train  of  twelve 
coaches,  and  all  loaded,  he  thought,  ''I  am  going  sixty 
miles  dow^n  the  road ;  and  only  sixty  pounds  of  steam 
to  run  on.  How  can  it  be?"  Having  started  it  glid- 
ed along  nicely.  ^  Before  five  miles  had  been  passed  the 
engine  was  throwing  ofif  steam  at  a  great  rate.  It  had 
more  than  it  could  control.  It  generated  steam  faster 
on  the  run  than  while  standing  still.  This  is  directly 
appHcable  to  God's  children.  If  sufficient  grace  is  ob- 
tained with  which  to  begin,  an  immediate  start  should 
be  made.  Duties  will  be  joyfully  accomplished  when 
once  begun.  Grace  will  be  so  multiplied  unto  us  that 
our  cup  will  frequently  overflow,  and  that,  too,  with- 
out tipping  it  any.  Otherwise  a  dead  engine  will  be 
standing  on  the  track — in  the  road. 

Some  Christians  are  Hke  an  old  flint-lock  gun.  It 
takes  them  too  long  to  ''strike  fire."  Mr.  Howard 
went  hunting  one  day  with  one  of  these  peculiar,  old- 
fashioned  fire-arms.  It  was  not  long  before  he  spied  a 
flock  of  ducks  swimming  upon  a  pond.  He  sneaked 
up  behind  a  clump  of  willows,  and  at  a  favorable  op- 
portunity, shot  at  his  game.  To  his  great  surprise  he 
failed  to  bring  down  a  single  bird.  He  loaded  and 
fired  again,  but  with  no  better  results.  He  continued 
his  firing  till  all  his  ammunition  was  gone,  but  not  a 
single  bird  did  he  bag.    This  was  hard  to  be  under- 


134 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


stood,  as  he  was  a  good  marksman.  Finally,  the  se- 
cret was  revealed.    Whenever  he  would  shoot,  the 

/  gun  would  go  che — whang.  The  preparatory  sound 
of  the  gun  previous  to  the  ball  leaving  the  barrel  would 
announce  to  the  ducks  that  danger  was  near,  hence 
they  would  dive  just  before  the  shot  struck  the  water. 

.  The  gun  was  too  long  in  going  off.  When  it  did  the 
game  had  disappeared.  This  is  too  often  the  case  with 
our  sermons  and  prayers,  they  are  so  lengthy  and  dry 
that  it  takes  them  too  long  to  go  off,  and  when  they  do 
our  man  is  gone  or  dead  asleep. 

In  his  early  life  Mr.  Howard  bought  a  very  nice 
rose  bush.  He  planted  it  in  the  best  of  soil,  and  with 
the  greatest  care,  cultivated  and  nourished  it,  till  it 
grew  to  be  a  beautiful  bush,  but  it  never  bore  any 
roses.  One  spring  the  cattle  broke  down  the  fence 
just  opposite  the  rose  bed.  Every  animal,  seemingly, 
took  pains  to  walk  through  that  bush.  To  all  appear- 
ances it  was  completely  cut  to  pieces.  Mr.  Howard 
straightened  it  up  as  best  he  could.  To  the  surprise 
of  all,  that  summer  and  ever  after,  it  bore  the  very 
best  and  most  attractive  of  roses.  God  may  permit 
Satan  to  trample  us  under  his  feet  as  it  were,  and 
bruise  us  in  general,  but  if  we  hold  still  in  the  hottest 
fire,  the  Lord  w411  bring  us  forth  bright  and  polished, 
bearing  precious  fruit  meet  for  the  Master's  kingdom. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


135 


-The  sweetest  fragrance  from  a  rose  is  only  obtained 
when  it  is  crushed.  When  a  saint  of  God  is  trampled 
upon  and  mangled  by  the  devil,  then  the  religion  of 
Jesus  Christ  is  brought  forth  in  all  its  fulness,  and 
made  to  reflect  his  power  to  preserve  blameless. 

God  designs  his  people  to  be  well  balanced  on  every  ^ 
reform — every  gospel  principle.  A  good  balance 
wheel  is  needed  to  keep  one  in  the  middle  of  the  road.-** 
Mr.  Howard,  in  his  younger  days,  went  upon  a  rail- 
road with  a  Romeo  saw  to  saw  wood.  A  balance 
wheel  was  upon  one  end  of  the  shaft,  and  a  saw  upon 
the  other  end.  The  machine  was  propelled  by  horse 
power.  A  metal  key  kept  the  balance  wheel  on.  It 
would  saw  as  fast  as  two  men  could  feed  it.  Now  and 
then  the  key  would  lose  out,  letting  his  balance  wheel 
fall  ofif.  Then  the  saw  was  apt  to  turn  bottom  side  up, 
and  run  wild.  Every  one  near,  because  of  this  acci- 
dent was  compelled  to  flee  for  their  Hves,  till  the  thing 
could  be  stopped.  They  were  safe  so  long  as  the  bal- 
ance wheel  stayed  on.  Any  particular  reform  or  gos- 
pel truth  may  be  so  persistently  proclaimed  in  every 
meeting,  that  the  people  will  become  heartily  disgusted. 
Such  a  practice  evidences  to  every  spiritual  mind  that 
their  gospel  balance  wheel  has  fallen  ofif.  I  am  very 
fond  of  liver,  but  do  not  want  it  for  every  meal. 

Once  w^hen  Mr.  Howard  was  traveling  along  a  cer- 


136 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


tain  road,  he  saw  a  small  group  of  little  boys.  They 
were  intently  gazing  into  the  heavens.  Becoming  in- 
terested he  looked  up  to  see  what  attracted  them,  but 
saw  nothing.  He  then  asked,  ''What  are  you  doing, 
boys?"  "We  are  flying  a  kite,''  they  replied.  "I  can't 
see  it,"  said  Mr.  Howard,  as  he  again  scanned  the  sky. 

^  One  little  fellow  interestedly  exclaimed,  'Tf  you  had 
hold  of  this  string,  you  could  feel  it."  How  much  this 
is  like  the  gravitation  of  the  Christian  heart  in  its  pas- 
sage through  life.  There  are  many  things  we  can 
neither  see  nor  understand,  but  somehow,  there  is  a 
powerful  drawing  ''at  the  other  end  of  the  string."  The 
nearer  we  get  to  our  eternal  home,  the  harder  is  the 

0  pull.  The  gravitation  of  a  saint's  heart  is  heavenward. 
A  ship,  all  loaded  down  with  precious,  human 
freight,  is  witnessed  far  out  at  sea.  To  what  point  is 
she  aiming?  The  light  house,  of  course.  Suppose 
the  beacon  light  is  out,  but  off  to  the  right  among  the 
crags  and  rocks,  is  another — a  false  light.  Behold  that 
vessel  as  she  swiftly  moves  forward  in  the  greatness  of 
her  strength !  She  is  heedless  of  the  danger  ahead, 
thoughtless  of  the  harm  so  near.  That  ship's  company 
will  surely  go  down  to  a  watery  tomb,  when  she  enters 
those  fiercely 'lashed  breakers.  Why?  Because  the  light 
in  the  Hght  house  had  gone  out,  and  she  was  led  to 
her  fearful  doom  by  a  false  beacon.    God  says  in  His 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


Word,  "Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world/'  The  Lord 
means  by  this  that  His  saints,  are  this  light.  Suppose 
we  backslide  and  our  lamps  go  out.  What  will  be- 
come of  that  poor,  lost  sinner?  Will  not  his  doom  be 
read  upon  the  rocks  of  time?  Behold  the  false  christs 
on  every  hand,  the  deadness  and  formahty  so  preva- 
lent, the  worldly  conformity  that  runs  rife  in  our  land 
to-day !  Do  not  these  things  in  burning  words  of  fire- 
bespeak  his  awful  fate?  May  the  good  Lord  ever  help 
us  to  keep  our  lamps  well  trimmed  that  we  may  send 
forth  cheering  rays  to  a  perishing  world. 


188 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  XX. 

POINTED   ILLUSTRATIONS. — CONTINUED. 

"He  that  winneth  souls  is  wise/V 

Mr.  Howard  called  at  a  home  to  see  a  young  lady 
who  was  very  sick.  Unfortunately  she  could  not  take 
medicine.  The  very  sight  of  it  would  nauseate  her. 
.What  to  do  her  father  did  not  know.  A  very  wise 
doctor  lived  in  the  town.  He  declared  he  could  get 
her  to  take  medicine.  Every  other  physician  had 
failed  in  the  attempt.  He  began  his  task  by  telling  her 
what  a  good  medicine  he  had.  Said  he,  ''Even  the  ba- 
bies, having  tasted  it,  ever  after  cry  for  it."  In  his 
hand  he  held  a  glass  containing  some  kind  of  a  prepa- 
ration. He  kept  sipping  at  this  from  a  spoon  as  he 
conversed  with  her.  During  the  time  she  intently 
^  watched  him.  "Now,"  said  he,  ''just  put  your  tongue 
to  this  and  see  how  good  it  is."  By  this  time,  having 
concluded  it  might  not  be  so  bad,  she  tasted  of  it. 
""Why  it's  not  so  bad  as  I  thought,"  said  she.    'T  told 


REVIVAL  EB^FORT. 


189 


you  so/'  replied  the  doctor.  Pretty  soon  he  gave  her  a 
teaspoonful.  Having  done  so,  he  said,  "I  will  be  back 
this  afternoon,  and  give  you  another  dose."  As  he 
came  out  of  the  house,  he  seemed  to  be  filled  with 
laughter.  Mr.  Howard,  who  was  standing  in  the  yard 
interrogated  him,  ''What  are  you  laughing  about?" 
Being  slow  in  answering,  Mr.  Howard  insisted  upon 
an  explanation.  Finally  he  said,  ''If  you  wall  say  noth- 
ing about  it,  I  will  tell  you.  I  have  been  an  hour  in 
the  attempt  to  get  the  sick  lady  here  to  take  a  dose  of 
medicine.  Finally  I  was  successful  in  persuading  her 
to  take  that  which  she  thought  was  medicine,  but  was 
nothing  more  than  sweetened  rain  water.  I  am  going 
back  this  afternoon.  It  won't  be  sweetened  rain  watei 
that  I  shall  give  her  then."  -A  minister  may  be  invited 
to  preach  to  a  congregation.  Sweetened  rain  water 
would  be  all  they  could  stand,  but  the  poor  man  gives 
them  a  dose  of  blue  mass  the  first  sermon.  His  suc- 
cess at  this  place  is  forever  ended.  A  skillful  physician 
knows  what  to  give,  when  to  give,  and  how  to  give. 
This  is  applicable  to  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  A  medi- 
cine might  be  given  that  would  cure  the  cholera,  mak- 
ing the  person  sound  and  well,  but  an  overdose  would 
kill  him  stone  dead. 

Many  preachers  and  church  members  wonder  why  it 
is,  after  a  person    has  become  thoroughly  saved  and 


140 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


filled  with  the  Spirit,  that  he  can  no  longer  fall  in  line 
with  the  cold  formal  worship  of  the  present  age.  Tie 
an  old  blind  horse  to  a  straw  pile,  and  never  give 
him  any  other  kind  of  feed ;  and  he  will  eat  with  per- 
fect satisfaction,  but  should  he  get  to  a  stack  of  good 
hay,  forever  after  that  it's  good-bye  to  the  straw  pile. 
Hay  is  much  better.  When  God's  children  enter  the 
land  of  Canaan,  and  begin  to  eat  the  fruits,  the  old 
corn,  and  the  wine  of  that  land  ;  and  get  where  the  birds 
sing  night  and  day,  it  is  good-bye  to  the  old  straw  of 
formalism,  worldly  conformity,  church  sprees  and  such 
like.  They  possess  that  which  gives  more  satisfaction. 
Should  every  professor  of  God-likeness  obtain  their 
Pentecost  a  glorious  union  would  be  effected  between 
all  Christian  peoples.  God  has  but  one  family,  it 
matters  not  to  what  denomination  they  may  belong. 
Some  of  the  children  have  crossed  over  the  river,  the 
remainder  are  on  this  side.  The  former  having  pre- 
ceded us  home  is  the  only  difference.  It  is  God's  im- 
mortal saints  on  earth,  and  glorified  saints  in  heaven. 
We  must  be  one  in  Jesus  Christ  before  we  can  enter 
the  pearly  gates.  Oneness  of  heart,  spirit,  work,  and 
enjoyment  will  preserve  heaven  in  its  present  peace- 
ful condition. 

In  his  travels  Mr.  Howard  saw  a  herd  of  cattle  drink- 
ing at  a  watering  place.     The  water  was  not  being 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


141 


pumped  by  any  person.  Becoming  greatly  interested 
he  tied  his  team,  and  proceeded  to  examine  how  those 
cattle  could  obtain  water.  It  was  ascertained  that  a 
large  platform  had  been  so  constructed  that  when  the 
cattle  would  walk  onto  it,  their  weight  would  cause  the 
water  to  run  into  the  drinking  trough.  They  did 
their  own  pumping.  The  person  who  wishes  God's 
artesian  well  of  salvation  to  always  flow,  should  step 
with  both  feet  upon  the  eternal  promises  of  God,  and 
stand  there.  The  weight  of  glory  they  possess,  with 
their  abiding  in  the  Lord  does  the  pumping.  It  isn't 
necessary  to  work  up  a  feeling  when  attending  any  re- 
ligious service.  It  is  there  as  a  spontaneity.  Such 
are  "instant  in  season,  out  of  season always  rejoicing, 
and  in  everything  giving  thanks,  are  peculiar  to  them. 

Suppose  a  person  had  fallen  into  a  deep  well,  and  by 
some  means,  was  unhurt  in  the  fall,  but  unable  to  get 
out  himself.  A  number  of  good  people  arranged  a 
means  of  escape  for  him,  by  dropping  down  a  rope. 
They  shouted,  ''All  you  have  to  do  is  to  take  hold  of 
the  rope,  and  we  will  draw  you  out."  But  in  this  pre- 
dicament he  folded  his  arms,  and  yelled  back,  ''You  let 
me  alone ;  just  mind  your  own  business,  and  I  will  take 
care  of  myself."  Every  person  in  town  would  say,  "If 
he  don't  take  hold  of  the  rope  he  ought  to  die  in  the 
w^ell."    The  Lord  Jesus  has  thrown  to  a  lost  world  the 


142 


TWENTY  YEAKS  OF 


rope  of  Salvation,  saying,  ''Come  unto  me  all  ye  that 
labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 
They  must  grasp  the  rope  or  forever  perish. 

Were  the  heavens  black  with  devils,  it  would  not  - 
hinder  the  work  of  salvation.  -The  dead  formahsm  * 
that  has  found  its  way  into  the  hearts  of  God's  pro- 
fessed followers,  is  the  thing  that  is  damning  so  many. 
The  present  Christian  world  has  hardly  anything  more 
than  a  stuck  on  experience.  Find  a  beautiful  cotton- 
wood  tree,  and  stick  it  full  of  the  finest  apples  to  be 
found.  It  is  still  a  cottonwood  tree.  The  fruit  being 
stuck  on  did  not  change  it.  There  is  so  much  stuck  on 
religion.  Most  every  body  holds  their  membership 
wdth  some  church,  but  where  is  the  real  fruit  of  God's, 
salvation.  A  holy  life  is  much  more  than  stuck  on 
fruit. 

The  good  Book  says,  ''Who  maketh  his  ministers  a 
flame  of  fire."  Put  five  hundred  people  in  a  building. 
Fill  every  aisle  and  vacant  spot  with  straw  and  dry 
shavings ;  then  put  five  bushels  of  real  fire  into  the 
middle  of  the  room.  If  the  occupants  can  stand  the 
smoke,  they  need  not  run,  but  if  it  begins  to  burn  in 
a  flame,  then  everybody  had  better  get  out  of  that 
building  as  quickly  as  possible.  God's  children  may 
have  some  fire,  but  that  way  they  will  not  amount  to 
very  much.    No  one  is  likely  to  get  under  conviction 


EEVIVAL  EFFORT. 


143- 


because  of  their  life.  However  when  the  Holy  Spirit 
fans  their  experience  into  a  flame  of  fire,  a  commotion 
will  be  witnessed  thereabout.  Fruitful  work  for  the 
Lord  will  be  a  result. 

God's  children  are  a  live  people.  When  the  Church 
is  all  ablaze  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  none  need  fear  that 
any  corrupt  thing  will  remain  within  her  pale.  Take 
sorghum  juice  green  looking  and  murky,  and  filled 
with  pomace,  etc.,  and  put  it  on  the  fire.  Let  it 
be  at  the  boiling  point,  and  every  impure  thing  will 
come  to  the  top.  It  can  then  be  very  easily  skimmed, 
till  it  becomes  pure.  Keep  the  Church  at  the  boiling 
point — ''fervent  in  spirit," — and  every  adverse  element 
can  easily  be  kept  out.  Then  can  she  easily  fill  her 
mission  in  the  world  for  Christ. 

Some  people  shout  too  soon — before  the  proper 
time.  Two  engineers  declared  that  their  respective  en- 
gines were  the  better.  They  desired  to  make  a  test  of 
each  one,  and  thus  discover  which  was  the  better.  The 
trial  was  made.  One  backed  in,  and  hooked  to  a 
train  of  eighty  cars.  It  would  not  move.  Attempt 
after  attempt  was  made,  but  to  no  avail.  The  engine 
was  pulled  out  and  the  other  backed  in.  The  word  to 
start  was  given.  "No,"  said  the  engineer,  "1  am  not 
ready  yet."  He  began  to  shovel  in  the  wood  and  coal. 
The  steam  began  to  rise  upon  the  gauge,  till  the  engine 


144 


TWENTY  TEAKS  OF 


trembled  under  the  great  pressure.  *  Then  he  opened 
the  throttle,  and  the  load  was  pulled  out  easily.  Let  no 
one  shout  till  they  are  so  full  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and 
fire  that  they  feel  it  is  shout  or  burst.  Such  shouting 
will  be  enjoyed,  and  a  heavy  load  pulled  by  it. 

During  the  time  that  Mr.  Howard  was  conducting 
his  revial  at  Logan,  Kansas,  he  lived  in  a  vacated  hotel. 
One  morning  a  man  drove  up  with  a  load  of  good  beef. 
Mr.  Howard  having  come  to  the  door,  the  man  said, 
''Do  you  want  to  buy  a  quarter  of  a  beef?"  ''Why, 
no,"  said  Mr.  Howard.  "We  couldn't  use  so  much  as  ' 
that."  The  man,  looking  up  at  the  sign  asked,  "You 
keep  hotel  here,  don't  you?"  "No  sir,"  repHed  Mr. 
Howard.  "Then  you  ought  to  take  down  your  sign. 
Youfool  people,"said  theman.  You  letachurch  mem- 
T^er  who  is  loaded  down  with  the  world,  be  told  that 
they  are  proud,  and  they  will  reply,  "I  am  not  proud. "^ 
They  should  take  down  their  sign  then,  for  they  fool 
people. 

Some  people  seem  to  think  when  a  person  is  hap- 
py, that  it  is  a  sure  sign  they  are  saved.  One  might  be 
very  happy,  and  not  know  anything  about  divine  grace. 
Mr.  Howard  was  traveling  down  the  Mississippi  river, 
and  stopped  over  at  a  certain  city,  being  desirous  of 
changing  boats.  It  was  necessary  that  he  should  wait 
there  for  several  hours.    Down  upon  the  wharf  a  num- 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


145 


ber  of  persons  were  fishing.  He  thought  he  would  try 
his  hand,  so  he  went  up  town,  bought  a  hook  and  hne, 
and  began  fishing.  In  a  few  minutes  a  large  fish  got 
hold  on  the  hook.  He  pulled  on  the  Hne,  and  brought 
the  fish  to  the  surface  of  the  water.  It  looked  to  be 
very  large.  Seeing  it  would  get  away  from  him,  he 
ran  the  Hne  around  a  post  near  by,  and  made  it  fast.  He 
began  to  shout  and  hollow,  and  jump  because  of  the 
prize  just  caught.  He  was  very  happy.  But  all  at 
once  the  Hne  broke,  and  away  went  fish,  happiness,  and 
all.  The  shouting  stopped  as  soon  as  the  fish  had  got- 
ten loose.  Nearly  every  person  can  rejoice  when  the 
meal  barrel  is  full,  and  other  things  looking  propitious. 
But  let  adversity  come,  persecution  arise,  and  tempta- 
tion assail,  and  it  will  be  another  thing  to  rejoice.  It 
will  try  the  hearts  of  men.  *True  happiness  comes  from 
a  conscious  fact  that  the  name  is  written  in  heaven. 


146 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  XXL 

POINTED  ILLUSTKATIONS.  —  CONCLUDED. 

Mr.  Howard  once  owned  a  dog  of  which  he  was  very 
fond,  but  his  neighbors  said  it  would  kill  sheep.  How- 
ever, he  was  slow  to  beHeve  this.  One  morning  a 
neighbor  came  running  to  the  home  of  Mr.  Howard,,  . 
and  exclaimed,  "Come  and  see,  your  dog  is  killing 
sheep  just  now !"  They  started  toward  the  place,  but 
when  the  dog  saw  his  master  coming,  he  ran  for  the 
house.  When  Mr.  Howard  arrived  the  dog  was  lying 
on  the  porch.  As  he  went  up  to  him  the  dog  rolled 
over  on  his  back,  and  seemingly  whined,  ''Charity,, 
charity,"  but  there  was  the  wool  in  his  teeth.  When-|^ 
ever  the  Word  of  God  is  preached  till  it  uncovers  sin 
of  every  kind,  dead  preachers,  and  dead  churches,  then 
the  people  begin  to  cry,  "Charity,  charity."  Look  care- 
fully and  the  wool  can  be  seen  in  their  teeth.  It  gives, 
them  away. 

"Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  saith 
the  Lord."    A  good  old  Presbyterian  brother  sent  two 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


147 


young  men  to  college,  with  a  view  of  their  entering  the 
ministry.  After  attending  the  school  awhile,  one  of 
them  became  a  confirmed  infidel.  This,  of  course, 
grieved  the.  old  man.  The  student  having  returned 
home  for  a  vacation,  this  good  old  brother  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  he.  would  preach  a  sermon  against  in- 
fidelity. He  invited  the  young  skeptic  to  come  and 
hear  him.  He  signified  his  intention  to  be  there.  A 
pious  old  colored  lady  lived  in  the  neighborhood.  She 
was  a  real  saint.  Whenever  any  minister  would  strike 
the  Rock  upon  which  she  stood,  away  she  would  go 
shouting  the  praises  of  God.  The  Presbyterian  broth- 
er went  to  see  her,  and  spoke  of  his  intention  to  preach 
a  sermon  against  infidelity,  purposing  to  convince  this 
young  man  of  the  error  of  his  way.  He  also  requested 
her  to  keep  still  till  he  finished  his  discourse,  that  its 
line  of  argument  might  not  lose  its  effect.  "Well," 
said  the  old  colored  lady,  "If  I  can  wid  out  squenching 
de  Spirit,  I  will  endeabor  to  do  so."  ''Do  the  best  you 
can,"  replied  he.  The  day  and  hour  arrived.  A  large 
congregation  had  assembled.  The  Presbyterian  broth-^ 
er  began  to  preach,  the  Lord  wonderfully  helping  him. 
Sure  enough,  when  about  half  through,  the  fire  began 
to  burn  upon  her  heart.  '  The  Rock  upon  which  she  - 
stood  had  been  struck,  and  away  she  went  up  and 
down  the  aisle  shaking  hands  with  everybody.  She 


148 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


gave  vent  to  her  feelings  by  praising  the  Lord  aloud. 
Soon  after  this  meeting  the  young  skeptic  gave  his 
heart  to  God,  and  was  converted.  The  good  brother 
upon  hearing  of  his  salvation,  sent  for  him.  ''Now," 
said  the  brother,  "what  part  of  my  discourse  convinced 
you  of  your  infidelity?"  The  young  man  being  slow 
to  answer,  the  Presbyterian  brother  insisted  upon  an 
•explanation.  ''If  I  must  tell  you,"  said  the  young 
man,  "I  will.  It  was  not  a  word  that  you  said.  Do  you 
remember  the  old  colored  lady  who  became  so  demon- 
strative? When  she  took  hold  of  my  hand,  I  felt  a 
-shock  of  divinity  go  all  through  me.  Right  there  I 
was  convinced  that  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  was  a 
reality."  Frequently  our  most  arduous  efforts  avail 
nothing.  'Except  God,  by  his  Holy  Spirit  apply  the 
message,  our  words  fall  fruitless  to  the  ground.  A 
warm  handshake  just  from  the  battery  of  heaven  will 
strike  terror  much  more  quickly  to  a  sinner's  heart 
than  any  human  endeavor.  Let  God  be  all  in  all, 
though  man  is  nothing. 

While  traveling  along  the  road  Mr.  Howard  met  a 
man  who  was  stuck  fast  in  a  mud  hole.  The  wagon 
being  heavily  loaded,  and  the  mules  small,  the  man 
couldn't  get  out  of  his  predicament.  The  attempt  was 
made  several  times,  but  in  vain.  About  this  time  a 
large  German  man  came  along.  Seeing  the  condition  of 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


149 


things,  he  said,  "Yeze  git  on  one  mule,  and  Ize  git  on 
the  odder,  and  dey  v^ill  dake  it  oute."  The  word  being 
given  to  go,  the  load  came  out  with  all  ease.  The 
weight  of  the  men  held  the  mules  down  so  they  could 
pull.  'As  God's  children  we  are  too  light.  We  can't 
pull  much  of  a  load  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  We  need 
to  be  weighted  down  with  church  w^ork  and  other  re- 
sponsibilities  of  a  religious  character.  Let  none  grum- 
ble when  the  Savior  burdens  us  down,  but  rather  re- 
joice, knowing  that  our  labors  will  be  of  much  more 
service  to  our  blessed  Master. 

A  few  years  since  Mr.  Howard  went  upon  an  excur- 
sion to  California.  One  day  the  train  was  winding 
around  a  mountain  peculiar  to  that  locality.  At  that 
particular  place  considerable  plowing  and  scraping  had 
been  done.  Rocks  and  gravel  were  in  abundance. 
They  shone  like  gold.  Every  one  in  the  car  declared 
it  was  gold.  All  were  wishing  the  train  would  stop 
that  they  might  obtain  some  of  this  shining  material. 
Sure  enough,  all  at  once,  it  did  stop.  In  less  time  than 
it  takes  to  tell  it  nearly  every  person  had  left  the  coach- 
es in  quest  of  gold,  as  they  supposed.  All  having  re- 
turned again,  they  began  to  examine  their  find.  It 
was  pronounced  pure  gold.  In  the  rear  of  the  car  sat 
2n  old  gray-haired  Californian,  laughing  at  them.  Mr. 
Howard  saw  something  was  peculiar,  as  he  quietly  ob- 


150 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


served  proceedings.  The  man  said,  ''You  are  all 
fooled;  that  is  not  gold."  The  passengers  still  de- 
clared it  was  gold.  Continued  he,  ''Come  with  me  to 
the  smoker  and  I  will  demonstrate  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all  that  this  is  not  gold."  ''Now,"  he  proceeded,  "pick 
out  the  best  appearing  piece,  and  give  it  to  me."  He 
took  the  piece  and  placed  it  in  some  acid  which  he  had. 
The  metal  turned  black.  That  told  the  tale.  No  more 
arguments  were  heard  endeavoring  to  prove  the  metal 
found  to  be  gold.  Frequently  we  hear  people  profes- 
ing  the  grace  of  holiness.  They  say  many  good  things, 
and  look  like  they  might  have  obtained  the  experience. 
When  the  Lord  permits  them  to  pass  through  some  se- 
vere trial,  suffer  some  deep  affliction,  or  fall  into  divers 
temptations  they  turn  back.  The  test  could  not  be  en- 
dured. There  vras  a  falling  out  by  the  way.  Who  will 
be  able  to  stand  acquitted  at  the  last  day?  "Not  all  that 
glitters  is  gold." 

The  ability  to  rightly  use  illustrations,  and  make 
them  the  most  pointed  and  effective,  is  possessed  by 
none  too  many.  When  properly  employed  by  a  care- 
ful application,  they  often  sink  deep  into  the  soul,  the 
truths  they  are  wont  to  elucidate.  Natural  talent,  with 
skillfulness  are  conducive  to  their  success.  The  art 
may  be  somewhat  acquired,  but  must  always  be  divine- 
ly blessed.     Mr.  Howard  seemed  to  be  an  adept  in 


KEYIVAL  EFFOET. 


151 


their  application.  He  knew  just  when,  and  how  to 
draw  upon  his  large  store  of  "pointed  illustrations." 
When  he  did  they  came  with  convincing  power,  and 
sin-killing  force.  The  above  are  a  few  of  the  many 
from  which  he  selects.  They  are  original  with  him  so 
far  as  is  known.  By  studying  them  carefully,  the  laity 
as  well  as  the  ministry,  will  find  in  them  precious  truths 
designed  to  give  great  spiritual  help.  Sorrowing 
hearts  will  be  comforted,  sin-sick  souls  will  discover  a 
cure,  and  believers  be  greatly  cheered. 


152 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

CHURCHES  DEDICATED. 

The  dedicatory  services  of  Mr.  Howard  are  on  a 
plane  with  all  his  other  ministerial  labors.  His  success 
is  no  less  apparent,  and  his  victories  no  less  glorious. 
Every  attempt  brought  forth  fruit,  financial  and  spirit- 
ual. Many  a  heavy  church  debt  was  raised,  and  num- 
bers of  precious  souls  ''born  again"  at  these  occasions. 
None  were  ever  in  a  line  of  formality,  none  without 
blessed  results,  and  none  at  which  God  did  not  come 
down  and  fill  the  temple  with  his  glory,  and  overshad- 
ow it  with  the  shechinah  of  his  presence. 

Prairie  Center  Free  Methodist  Church. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Howard  was  called  to  dedicate 
the  Free  Methodist  church  at  Prairie  Center,  Kansas. 
Upon  his  arrival  he  learned  that  there  was  a  mort- 
gage of  seven  hundred  dollars  held  against  the  church 
edifice.  The  night  before  the  services  a  heavy  rain 
fell.    The  possibility  of  raising  the  mortgage  seemed 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


153- 


dark  and  discouraging  indeed.  Rev.  J.  Travis,  of  Il- 
linois, long  since  deceased,  was  invited  to  preach  the 
discourse  of  the  morning.  Though  muddy  and  dis- 
agreeable the  people  came  out  in  fair  numbers.  Love 
feast  began  at  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  God  manifested  him- 
self gloriously.  The  Holy  Spirit  continued  to  be 
poured  out  till  seven  or  eight  were  on  their  feet  at 
once  shouting  the  praises  of  God  for  joy.  At  this 
juncture  Mr.  Howard  jumped  to  his  feet,  and  said, 
''Now,  shout  right  on.  Praise  God,  I  enjoy  it.  But 
you  have  allowed  a  seven  hundred  dollar  mortgage  to 
be  placed  against  God's  house.  It  is  a  shame.  There 
are  men  in  this  house  who  would  not  permit  such  a 
thing  to  be  held,  no  not  against  their  hogs.  But  it 
has  been  put  upon  the  temple  of  the  Lord.  Now,  don't 
stop  your  shouting.  If  you  do,  we  will  consider  it  has. 
been  a  sham — just  put  on.  Let  the  Lord  put  the  shout 
in  us  until  it  comes  out  through  our  pocket-book. 
When  people  pay  in  proportion  to  their  shouts,  it  is 
generally  considered  real."  At  this,  awful  conviction 
came  upon  the  entire  congregation.  They  felt  that  debt 
must  be  lifted.  In  less  than  twenty  minutes  the- 
amount  was  lying  on  the  stand  either  in  cash  or  pledges. 
Then  God  came  down  in  his  own  precious  pres- 
ence and  filled  the  temple.  Great  rejoicing  was  had 
on  the  part  of  every  body  present.    That  day  the  Scrip- 


154 


TWENTY  YEA.RS  OF 


ture  was  fulfilled  where  it  says,  ''Bring  ye  all  the  tithes 
into  the  storehouse,  that  there  may  be  meat  in  mine 
house,  and  prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord  of 
hosts,  if  I  will  not  open  you  the  windows  of  heaven,and 
pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that  there  shall  not  be  room 
enough  to  receive  it."    Mai.  3:10. 

Grover  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church. 

A  short  revival  and  dedicatory  service  was  held  at 
Grover,  Kansas,  under  the  auspices  of  Mr.  Howard. 
Near  this  place  is  the  home  of  that  good  man,  Rev.  L. 
S.  Cooper,  who  had  been  greatly  instrumental  in  lay- 
ing a  firm  foundation  for  the  Holiness  movement,  as 
well  as  for  the  Wesleyan  church,  in  said  state.  The 
Lord  has  greatly  blessed  his  labors. 

This  was  a  very  peculiar  meeting.  The  building  had 
teen  erected  years  before.  Mr.  Howard  saw  at  once 
that  it  had  lacked  care.  It  was  weather  beaten,  the 
window  lights  broken,  and  holes  pecked  in  it  by  birds. 
No  painting  had  ever  been  done  upon  it.  Said  he,  as 
its  surroundings  were  scanned  by  him,  ''This  is  a  hard 
looking  church  to  give  to  the  Lord."  Afterwards  he 
said  to  the  stewards,  "You  must  get  some  one  else  to 
dedicate  this  building.  I  have  not  sufficient  grace  to 
offer  such  a  place  of  worship  to  God.  It  looks  like  Je- 
:sus  Christ  is  a  pauper,  and  that  all  his  friends  have  for- 


REYIYAL  EFFORT. 


155 


saken  him  and  fled.  If  we  had  nothing  better  than  a 
corn  crib  in  which  to  worship,  I  could  gracefully  tell 
the  Lord  here  is  the  crib,  it  is  the  best  we  have.  But  we 
can  do  better.  Some  of  you  have  your  thousands  horded 
up  around  you.  I  can't  insult  God  by  offering  him  this 
poorly-repaired  building."  "Now,"  continued  he, 
''send  to  town  and  procure  paints,  brushes,  and  glass, 
and  we  will  take  ofif  our  coats  and  repair  this  church 
till  it  is  made  to  be  a  very  respectable  place  indeed. 
Then  we  can  expect  the  Lord  to  come  and  take  pos- 
session." The  program  was  carefully  followed.  Meet- 
ings were  held  every  night  during  the  week.  Gracious 
outpourings  of  the  Spirit  were  enjoyed.  By  the  next 
Sabbath  the  building  presented  a  new  appearance  al- 
together. A  severe  snow  storm  came  the  night  before 
the  dedicatorv  services.  It  w^as  still  storming  when 
the  day  arrived.  This  somewhat  discouraged  the 
saints.  At  the  hour  of  eleven  only  six  persons  were  in 
the  house.  One  of  the  dear  old  saints  began  to  weep 
at  this  saying,  ''God  is  against  us."  "No,"  replied  Mr. 
Howard,  "everything  will  be  all  right  pretty  soon." 
The  clouds  began  to  clear  away  and  the  sun  to  shine. 
By  twelve  o'clock  the  house  was  well  filled.  Mr.  How- 
ard took  his  text  from  Luke  i  :6:  "And  they  were  both 
Hghteous  before  God,  walking  in  all  the  command- 
ments and  ordinances  of  the  Lord  blameless."  While 


156 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


he  was  speaking  the  Spirit's  presence  came  richly,  even 
as  of  old.  Eighty  dollars  was  necessary  to  free  the 
church  from  debt.  During  the  discourse  the  people 
gladly  received  the  truth  and  great  conviction  came 
upon  them.  A  call  was  made  for  the  needed  amount, 
but  in  a  few  minutes  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars  was  freely  given.  The  church 
building,  in  the  midst  of  tears  and  rejoicing,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Lord.    Thus  ended  a  glorious  victory. 

Topeka  Free  Methodist  Church. 

At  the  time  of  his  second  revival  in  Topeka,  Mr. 
Howard  dedicated  the  new  Free  Methodist  church  of 
that  place.  At  the  first  meeting  many  were  saved  and 
sanctified.  The  fire  continued  to  burn,  but  with  in- 
creasing fervor.  It  was  difficult  to  preach  because  of 
the  rejoicing  of  the  saints.  The  house  continued  to  be 
so  crowded  that  it  was  next  to  impossible  to  conduct  an 
altar  service.  Many  entered  into  the  rest  of  faith.  On 
the  last  Sabbath  the  church  was  given  to  the  Lord. 
It  will  ever  be  a  memorable  spot  in  the  hearts  of  many. 
Having  crowded  his  way  to  the  pulpit  through  the  im- 
mense concourse  of  people,  he  announced    his  hymn, 

''Guide  me,  O,  thou  great  Jehovah, 
Pilgrim  through  this  barren  land." 

While  they  were  singing  a  mighty  shock  of  divinity 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


157 


touched  every  soul.  One  wave  of  glory  after  another 
continued  to  roll  in  mighty  billows  till  all  in  the  house 
were  in  a  commotion.  The  congregation  becoming 
quiet,  Mr.  Howard  began  the  discourse  of  the  morn- 
ing. An  old  man  past  sixty  had  crowded  his  way  in, 
and  was  leaning  against  the  door.  During  the  sermon 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  fell  upon  him,  and  he  was  pow- 
erfully saved.  He  shouted  the  praises  of  God,  saying, 
'T  am  saved,  I  am  saved !"  Within  about  three  weeks  of 
this  time  the  old  man  died  and  went  sweeping  through 
the  pearly  gates. 

Kansas  Conference  Tabernacle. 

During  a  revival  held  at  Little  River,  Kansas,  the 
new  conference  tabernacle  was  dedicated  to  God  by 
Mr.  Howard.  At  this  revival  the  old  fashioned  slay- 
ing power  was  manifest.  Men  and  women  fell  as  dead. 
The  whole  town  was  stirred  to  its  very  center.  It 
continued  under  this  pressure  for  ten  days.  The  tab- 
•ernacle  was  dedicated  on  the  last  Sunday  of  the  meet- 
ing. It  was  a  time  of  great  victory.  As  Mr.  How- 
ard was  giving  it  to  the  Lord  as  a  Wesleyan  Methodist 
tabernacle,  a  wave  of  divine  glory  passed  over  the  con- 
gregation. It  was  as  sweet  as  heaven.  Some  shouted, 
others  laughed,  while  still  others  cried.  A  number 
were  prostrated  because  of  the  heavenly  presence,  it 


158 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


was  so  sublime.  The  oldest  people  of  the  place  de- 
clared that  they  had  never  seen  it  on  this  wise  before.  So 
in  the  midst  of  tears  and  hand  shaking  the  blessed  God 
received  the  gift  and  came  to  his  own. 

Minersville  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church. 

This  was  a  new  building,  which  had  just  been  com- 
pleted, at  Minersville,  Cloud  county,  Kansas.  It  was 
erected  by  a  newly  organized  class.  They  were  most 
ly  miners,  and  quite  poor,  but  amidst  struggles  and  de- 
privations they  now  had  a  neat,  plain  house  of  worship. 
Their  pastor  was  greatly  instrumental  in  its  success- 
ful consumation.  He  labored  much  upon  it  with  his 
own  hands. 

As  usual  a  heavy  snow  storm  occurred  the  night  be- 
fore the  service  was  to  be  held.  On  Sabbath  morning 
it  was  very  cold,  with  a  deep  covering  of  snow  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth.  Notwithstanding  the  discourage- 
ments a  goodly  number  were  present.  Mr.  Howard, 
who  had  been  engaged  for  the  occasion,  preached  in 
demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  power.  Many  eyes 
were  filled  with  tears,  and  many  hearts  with  joy.  A 
call  for  seventy-five  dollars  was  made  that  the  church 
might  be  free  from  debt.  In  less  than  ten  minutes, 
over  one  hundred  dollars  were  given.  An  unsaved 
man,  being  unusually    wrought    upon  by    the  Spirit, 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


159- 


walked  up  to  the  stand,  and  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  laid 
down  twenty  dollars.  In  the  midst  of  victorious  shouts 
a  beautiful  temple  w^as  given  to  the  Lord. 

Morgan  Chapel. 
A  revival  was  held  by  Mr.'  Howard,  in  this  new 
chapel,  and  in  connection  with  it  dedicated  the  building: 
to  the  Lord.  Some  few  months  beiore  this,  while  at 
breakfast,  Grandma  Morgan,  as  she  was  called,  said  to 
Mr.  Howard,  "I  have  one  hundred  dollars  I  wish  to 
give  towards  the  building  of  a  church.  I  desire  to 
place  it  where  the  devil  cannot  get  it  after  I  am  gone. 
My  great  anxiety  is  to  see  the  building  completed  be- 
fore the  Lord  calls  me  hence."  From  that  morning 
the  church  was  begun.  The  Morgan  family,  consist- 
ing of  several  boys  and  girls,  paid  heavily  to  this  build- 
ing fund.  During  this  revival  a  number  were  either 
saved,  reclaimed,  or  sanctified.  On  the  Sabbath  the 
church  house  was  presented  to  God  in  prayer  by  that 
holy  man.  Elder  A.  R.  Brooks,  lately  deceased.  Since 
that  time  this  Wesleyan  organization  has  been  the 
means  of  many  precious  souls  being  brought  into  the 
kingdom.  Grandma  Morgan  had  her  desire  granted 
Jn  that  she  lived  several  years  after  this.  About  two 
years  ago  she  passed  away  having  outlived  her  eighteith 
birthday.  Angels  came  to  receive  her  unto  a  blessed 
reward. 


160 


TWENTY  TEAKS  OF 


Suffice  this  number  of  dedicatory  services  to  illus- 
trate his  method,  manner,  and  success.  As  the  reader 
can  see,  none  were  stale  and  dry,  but  interesting  be- 
cause of  the  Spirit's  powerful  presence.  Many  new  born 
souls  are  the  result  of  these  meetings.  God  is  pleased 
with,  believers  rejoice  in,  and  an  honest  sinner  desires 
just  such  services. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


161 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

FREAKS  OF  FANATICISM.  V 

Fanaticism  and  wild-fire  are  nearly  always  present 
where  the  real  work  of  God  is  in  progress.  The  devil 
doesn't  care  whether  we  are  formalists  or  fanatics,  just 

V  so  we  are  not  successful  soul  winners.  Either  one  of 
these  extremes  destroys  all  usefulness  on  the  part  of 
any  soul.  It  is  difficult  to  reach  a  formalist,  but  much 
harder  to  rescue  a  fanatic.  Their  impressions  become 
revelations  from  God ;  their  imaginations  the  voice  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  These  are  considered  of  higher  au- 
thority than  good,  sound,  friendly  advice,  hence  it  is 
spurned,  and  the  solicitous  friend  looked  upon  as  an 
opposer  of  real  salvation,  and  a  hindrance  to  the  cause 

-  of  God.  The  labor  of  such  a  person  is  a  failure,  and 
the  peril  of  their  soul  alarming.  God  himself  can 
hardly  do  anything  for  them,  though  he  is  the  only 
source  of  their  help.    Mr.  Howard,  from  the  nature  of 


162 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


his  meetings,  has  met  with  much  of  this  thing.  Ap- 
pended we  give  a  few^  circumstances  occurring  under 
his  labors,  that  the  reader  may  be  warned  not  to  in- 
trench, and  given  lessons  how  to  handle  it. 

KiUing  a  Colt. 

A  good  brother  living  in  Jewell  county  was  power- 
fully convicted  to  obtain  the  grace  of  holiness.  Some 
things  were  in  his  way.  In  his  desperation  to  be  right 
with  God  the  devil  took  advantage  of  him  and  almost 
unbalanced  his  mind.  He  had  given  his  boys  a  very 
fine  colt,  of  which  they  were  very  fond.  They  would 
pet  and  caress  it  at  every  opportunity.  He  became 
seized  with  a  fanciful  notion  that  the  animal  was  idol- 
ized by  the  family.  This  he  believed  to  be  displeasing 
in  the  eyes  of  God.  One  night  at  a  very  late  hour  he 
called  his  boys  and  said,  "Boys,  the  Lord  has  show^ed 
me  that  you  are  making  an  idol  of  that  colt.  Now  you 
must  go  with  me  and  kill  it.''  He  made  them  take  an 
ax  and  knock  it  in  the  head.  They  obeyed  and  sac- 
rificed the  colt  to  his  heated  imagination.  In  the  morn- 
ing a  messenger  was  dispatched  post  haste  for  Mr. 
Howard,  who  was  stopping  at  a  village  not  far  dis- 
tant.   The  messenger  announced,  ''Brother  C  has 

become  crazy.  Will  you  not  come  to  his  home  imme- 
diately?"    They  soon  arrived  at    his    place.     At  a 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


163 


glance  Mr.  Howard  saw  what  was  the  matter.  It  was 
with  difficulty  that  he  induced  the  unfortunate  man  to 
even  look  at  him.  He  was  compelled  to  handle  him 
roughly,  and  slap  him  hard  in  the  face  before  his 
dazed  condition  of  mind  would  vanish.  Mr.  Howard 
by  his  rough  usage  of  the  man  turned  the  bent  of  his 
mind.  Thus  he  was  rescued  from  a  fearful  condition. 
Since,  he  has  not  permitted  the  devil  to  entrap  him,  but 
is  a  useful  man  for  the  Lord. 

Catching  an  Angel. 

As  usual  at  such  meetings  fanaticism  broke  (3ut  at 
the  Greely  camp  meeting.  One  hot  afternoon  in  a 
ring  meeting,  while  many  were  getting  saved,  and  ex- 
citement was  running  high,  a  brother  screamed  to  the 
top  of  his  voice,  saying,  "Look,  look!  I  see  an  angel 
in  yon  tree."  In  great  haste  he  attempted  to  climb  the 
tree,  that  he  might  catch  the  angel.  The  task  to  pre- 
vent him  was  difiScult.  He  continued  to  say,  "Why, 
don't  you  see  it?  There  it  is  sitting  upon  a  limb."  At 
times  he  was  so  determined  to  climb  the  tree  that  it 
required  several  persons  to  hold  him.  He.  continued 
this  till  he  became  completely  wet  with  perspiration. 
Mr.  Howard  was  in  one  of  the  tents  asleep,  trying  to 
obtain  some  rest  from  his  arduous  labors.  Some  one 
seeing    the  condition  in  which    this  man  was,  came 


164 


TWENTY  YEARS  OP 


and  aroused  Mr.  Howard,  requesting  him  to  come 
quickly,  and  break  the  spell  if  possible.  He  hurried 
to  the  place,  and  soon  learned  the  nature  of  the  case 
with  which  he  had  to  deal.  He  grabbed  the  man  by 
the  head,  and  gave  his  neck  a  terrible  wrench.  This 
soon  aroused  him,  and  he  returned  to  his  right  mind. 
This  was  a  good  man  but  the  devil  had  switched  him 
off  the  right  track  in  the  above  manner.  It  is  a  grand 
thing  to  keep  well  balanced.  The  Lord  has  designed 
that  his  children  be  symmetrical  and  perfectly  de- 
veloped.   May  we"  all  take  heed  to  ourselves. 

In  this  same  meeting  another  man,  while  seeking  the 
Lord  at  the  altar,  hastily  arose,  and,  as  if  the  devil 
was  after  him,  ran  about  two  hundred  yards,  and 
jumped  into  the  midst  of  a  thick  hedge  fence.  While 
in  this  predicament  the  Lord  had  mercy  upon  him, 
and  saved  him.  Formalism  never  produces  fanati- 
cism. 

Christian  Science  Unmasked. 

A  serious  case  occurred  at  a  meeting  in  Douglas 
county.  A  man,  calling  himself  a  Christian  Science 
minister,  came  to  this  meeting,  and  inquired  of  Mr. 
Howard  if  he  did  not  wish  some  one  to  assist  him  in 
the  meeting.  His  sharp,  penetrating  eye  soon  ran 
through    the  man's  trickery,  hence  he  said    to  him, 


REVIVAL   EFFORT.  165 

"No !  I  think  you  need  help  more  than  any  one  I 
know  of/'  The  man  then  crossed  the  river,  and  went  to 
a  house  wliere  a  sick  woman  lay  dangerously  ill.  He 
said  to  her,  ''Believe  you  are  well,  and  you  will  be 
well."  He  instilled  this  doctrine  till  she  attempted, 
with  some  help,  to  arise.  No  sooner  had  her  feet 
touched  the  floor  than  she  fainted,  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes died.  Had  he  not  made  good  his  escape,  the  en- 
raged populace  would  have  mobbed  him. 

Fanaticism  gone  to  Seed. 

The  Franklin  county  revival  produced  its  quota  of 
deluded  souls.  One  brother,  having  been  saved  from 
the  awful  tobacco  habit,  declared  that  he  had  just  re- 
ceived a  revelation  from  God,  informing  him  that  he 
would  be  privileged  to  chew  tobacco  again ;  and  that 
he  was  now  doing  it  to  the  glory  of  God.  Every  one 
could  see  that  he  was  following  an  impression  from  the 
devil.  He  also  said  that  he  stretched  a  wire  around 
his  yard,  and  made  a  law  forbidding  the  devil  to  enter 
within.  He  farther  said  that  that  wire  had  been  there 
for  years,  but  that  the  devil  had  never  pretended  to 
cross  over  it  but  once.  Then  he  procured  a  number  of 
baskets  and  put  his  Satanic  majesty  at  work,  carrying 
manure.  Said  he,  "I  made  him  carry  a  basketful  to 
each  hill  of  corn  on  my  farm.    I  never  saw  such  corn 


166  TWENTY  YEARS  OF 

grow  as  I  had  that  year.  When  he  comes  around  me, 
that  is  the  way  I  use  him.  If  some  of  you  would  do 
the  same,  you  wouldn't  have  so  many  devils  up- 
on your  premises,  or  around  your  houses."  He  told 
this  in  great  earnestness.  Every  one  could  see  that 
this  was  fanaticism  gone  to  seed,  yet  some  supposed 
he  was  a  Christian.  He  was  a  good  neighbor,  strict- 
ly honest,  and  made  a  good  living,  but  he  would  fol- 
low impressions^  and  declare  them  to  be  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.     He  wasn't  a  well-balanced  Christian. 

These  illustrate  a  few  tangents  upon  which  some 
people  are  misled.  There  are  many  others  equally 
dangerous.  How  carefully  we  ought  to  live,  and  ever 
be  "easy  to  be  entreated." 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


167 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

AS  VIEWED  BY  CO -LABORERS. 

Mr.  Howard  had  traveled  extensively  in  his  gospel 
labors,  and  made  many  warm  friends.  Upon  learning 
of  his  intention  to  publish  a  book  entitled  ''Twenty 
Years  of  Revival  Effort/'  many  wished  to  add  their 
mite  to  its  already  interesting  pages.  A  few  of^ these 
we  give,  portraying  a  general  outline  of  the  work,  and 
revealing  the  esteem  with  which  he  is  held. 

May  9,  1898. 

Dear  Brother  Howard: — 

I  learn  that  you  are  about  to  publish  reminiscences 
of  your  revival  work.  The  intimacy  and  unbroken 
cordiality  of  our  relations  during  several  years  of 
stirring  labors,  seem  to  indicate  the  propriety  of  my 
furnishing  a  word  of  testimony  of  continued  good 
will  and  interest  in  the  Lord's  work.  Some  of  the 
most  eventful  and  pleasant  years  of  my  life  of  busy 


168  TWENTY  YEARS  OF 

and  widely  varied  experiences,  were  thus  spent  in 
western  Kansas,  and  Nebraska.  I  recall  them  with 
great  pleasure.  The  spirit  of  revival  was  in  the  air. 
Hope,  courage,  and  good  cheer  animated  all  hearts, 
and  beamed  upon  the  countenance  and  expressed  it- 
self in  the  grasp  of  the  hand.  The  enthusiasm  which 
caused  the  line  of  teams  with  covered  wagons — "prai- 
rie schooners'" — to  start  on  their  way  to  camp-meet- 
ings, preaching  a  long  sermon  across  prairie  divides ; 
which  caused  the  pilgrims  to  eagerly  go  thirty,  forty, 
fifty  miles  to  ordinary  quarterly  meetings ;  which 
brought  urgent  calls  for  revival  meetings  from  many 
points ;  which  inspired  limitless  sacrifices  to  forward 
the  work  of  God ;  these,  and  other  like  features  are 
pleasant  memories.  Without  detracting  from  the 
honor  due  to  the  faithful  labor  of  others,  it  is  safe  to 
say  this  atmosphere  of  revival  in  western  Kansas,  and 
Nebraska  from  1880  to  1885,  was  in  large  measure 
due  to  your  zeal,  sacrifice,  and  success.  I  do  not 
forget  the  years  of  your  uncompensated  toil,  when  you 
turned  over  all  receipts,  practically,  to  the' aid  and  in- 
spiration of  your  brethren.  The  unqualified  respect 
with  which,  as  District  Elder,  I  was  ever  treated  by 
you,  while  you  were  sometimes  called  District  Elder, 
or  Chairman,  by  way  of  sarcastic  reflection  on  myself, 
are  agreeable  as  well  as  amusing    reflections.  I 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


169^ 


thought  it  a  merit  to  discern  and  give  freedom  to  one 
who  could  do  the  needed  work  better  than  myself,, 
without  standing  on  the  red  tape  of  official  superior- 
ity. One  element  of  your  success  was  the  reliability 
with  which  you  could  be  depended  on  to  keep  an  ap- 
pointment, be  on  hand  promptly,  have  provision  made 
in  season  for  a  grove,  camp,  quarterly,  or  protracted 
meeting,  and  be  ready  to  welcome  all  comers  with  an 
inspiring  hand-shake,  and  expectant  greeting.  God 
honored  such  appropriate  incidentals  with  his  out- 
poured Spirit.  The  secret  was  faith  inspiring  sacrifice 
and  effort ;  and  the  faith  brought  God's  gracious  pres- 
ence in  power.  The  pilgrims  felt  they  had  a  courage- 
ous and  successful  leader.  That  gave  them  uncon- 
querable courage  and  zeal.  It  pays  to  make  invest- 
ments where  the  returns  are  apparent. 

So  men  feel,  and  thus  they  will  zealously  work.  You 
wet^Jthe  first  one  to  whom  I  communicated  the  orig- 
inal plan  and  purpose,  God  inspired,  as  I  fully  believed, 
which  at  length,  under  another  form,  developed  into 
the  building  and  incorporation  of  the  Orleans  school. 
That  plan,  in  the  light  of  after  experiences  was, 
doubtless,  wiser  than  the  one  followed.  Had  we  car- 
ried out  the  purpose,  unfortunately  obstructed  by  the 
acts  of  others,  of  building  in  more  moderate  and  hum- 
ble style  as  contemplated,  we  might  have  been  spared 


170 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


some  bitter,  and  disastrous  experiences.  However, 
the  glorious  struggle  at  Orleans  developed  the  hero- 
ism of  the  self-denying  saints,  and  made  a  record  with 
few  parallels.  I  have  ever  accredited  you  with  the 
strictest  honor  in  financial  dealing,  as  well  as  success- 
ful management  of  the  work  of  original  building.  The 
account  of  our  mutual  sacrifices  and  labors,  with  those 
of  our  faithful  co-workers,  prominent  among  whom 
should  be  named  District  Elder  E.  E.  Miller,  is 
with  the  Lord,  I  trust,  such  as  we  can  safely  meet  in 
the  final  day. 

I  have  not  space  to  recall  a  multitude  of  interesting 
particulars  of  those  joyful  and  triumphant,  though 
arduous  years  of  our  associated  labors.  The  inspir- 
ing songs,  the  powerful  seasons  of  prayer  at  revival 
altars ;  the  spirit  of  prophecy  resting  upon  the  saints, 
which  brought  forth  burning,  spear-pointed  testimo- 
nies ;  the  honest  confessions  and  hearty  renunciations 
which  prepared  the  way  of  the  Spirit ;  the  shouts  of  vic- 
tory with  a  friendly,  loving  spirit,  which  quelled  the 
hearts  of  opposers,  and  attracted  whole  communities, 
are  incidents  which  you  have,  doubtless,  narrated  in 
detail.  It  would  be  agreeable  to  name  many  of  our 
companions  in  toil  and  triumph,  to  recall  the  scenes 
on  the  Sappa,  and  the  Solomon,  at  Norton  and  Al- 
mena,  at    Orleans  and    Alma,  and  in    various  other 


RKYIVAL  EFFORT. 


171 


places.  The  above  must  suffice.  God  is  ever  tlie 
same:  ''Jesus  Christ  the  same  yesterday,  to-day  and 
iorever."  A  wise  use  of  means  will  secure  glorious 
ends.  Finney  claims  the  laws  of  the  Spiritual  king- 
dom, available  for  success  in  revival  work  are  more  re- 
liable than  the  laws  of  agriculture.  Let  us  apply  them 
while  the  day  lasts. 

As  ever  in  Jesus, 

C.  M.  Damon. 

Revivals,  heaven  ordained  and  heaven  born,  are  the 
kind  we  desire,  and  must  have.  Men  with  good  nat- 
ural, and  acquired  ability ;  with  tact,  and  talent ;  pos- 
sessed with  good  judgment,  and  great  generalship ; 
and  men  filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  preach  in 
demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  and  of  power,  are  the  cry- 
ing need  of  the  pulpit  now,  as  in  days  of  yore. 

Thank  God,  there  are  such  men  yet  living.  I  have 
labored  some  in  protracted  efforts,  and  assisted  differ- 
ent persons  in  revival  work ;  have  seen  a  goodly  num- 
ber converted,  and  many  wholly  sanctified,  and  have 
closely  observed  men  who  were  successful  soul  win- 
ners in  the  Master's  vineyard. 

It  has  been  my  happy  lot  to  be  quite  often  associated 
with  Rev.  G.  B.  Howard,  the  subject  of  this  work,  for 
a  period  of  seven  years.     I  have  been  at  his  home  in 


172 


TWENTY  YEAKS  OF 


Topeka,  Kansas,  a  number  of  times,  and  find  him 
there  as  elsewhere,  happy,  genial,  sociable,  honest,  and 
whole-souled. 

Honesty  is  the  basis  principle,  without  which  the 
whole  superstructure  falls.  ]\Ir.  Howard's  general- 
ship is  extraordinary,  the  unction  with  which  he 
preaches  is  overwhelming.  He  declares  the  whole 
counsel  of  God  to  both  saint  and  sinner.  I  have  sat 
under  his  preaching  when  it  seemed  as  though  heaven 
and  earth  would  come  together.  The  great  crowd  of 
people  who  attended  his  services  sat  breathlessly  at- 
tentive  to  catch  every  word.  When  the  climax  in 
the  discourse  had  been  reached,  and  awful  conviction 
was  settling  upon  the  people,  a  mighty  rush  for  the 
altar  would  be  made.  Then  the  heart-rending  cry  of 
the  sinner  for  mercy,  the  pleading  of  beHevers  for  full 
salvation,  and  the  shouts  of  victory  from  those  just 
delivered,  blended  into  one  grand  and  sublime  har- 
mony.    It  was  music  begotten  in  heaven. 

B.  F.  Hester. 

I  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  when  I  came  west  to 
Alma,  Nebraska,  in  1883,  the  name  of  Brother  G.  B. 
Howard,  the  Evangelist,  was  a  household  word  in  all 
Free  ^Methodist  homes,  as  well  as  in  many  others.  It 
was  stated  soon  after,  that  he  would  pitch  his  large 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


173 


tabernacle  near  my  residence,  in  a  few  days.  This 
report  rapidly  spread  among  saint  and  sinner,  until 
they  came  from  far  and  near  as  soon  as  the  tent  was 
pitched.  This  was  my  first  camp-meeting  during  the 
whole  of  my  life  up  to  that  time.  Such  pungent  con- 
viction took  hold  on  my  heart,  that  I  was  afterwards 
led  to  yield  myself  to  the  Lord.  Many  were  saved  in 
this  meeting.  Others  became  so  interested  that  they 
followed  up  many  such  meetings  that  year  to  find  out 
the  success  of  the  evangeHst.  We  noticed  that  his 
ability  to  handle  large  congregations  as  he  willed, 
made  him  a  natural  general.  His  equal  in  this  line 
was  not  to  be  found  in  all  this  country.  We  have 
known  him  fifteen  years,  and  have  had  no  occasion  to 
change  our  mind.  We  have  seen  him  sway  great 
congregations.  Some  in  attendance  on  the  meetings 
attempted  to  destroy  the  services ;  they  nearly  al- 
ways went  away  his  friends ;  frequently  they 
would  be  saved  of  God.  Under  his  work  many  young 
ministers  were  raised  up  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  who 
have  become  successful  preachers  of  the  gospel.  They 
are  scattered  over  many  western  states. 

One  point  of  success  was  in  his  knowing  how  to  put 
every  one  to  work.  If  some  formal  professors  would 
come  on  the  camp-ground  he  would  soon  have  them 
trying  to  pray  or  testify.     In    this  manner  he  dis- 


174 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


covered  to  them  their  dead  condition,  and  put  them  tO' 
crying  for  help.  They  would  come  through  with 
such  power,  that  they  immediately  entered  into  gospel 
service,  and  blessed  times  w^ould  follow. 

Until  this  day  in  the  communities  where  he  and  his 
workers  pitched  their  tent,  we  are  asked,  ''Where  is 
the  Rev.  Howard,  the  Evangelist,  who  a  few  years  ago 
kindled  such  watchfires  in  this  county?"  Never  be- 
fore or  since  was  there  such  an  interest  manifested  in 
this  country  among  all  classes  of  people.  It  was 
an  easy  thing  for  people  to  come  from  far  and  near  to 
attend  these  revivals.  His  tactics  were,  ''AH  things  to 
all  men,  that  he  might  win  some."  The  writer  was  so 
stirred  in  the  first  of  this  series  of  meetings,  because 
his  wife  went  to  the  altar,  that  he  took  off  his  coat  to 
settle  the  matter  with  Brother  Howard,  thinking  he 
was  to  blame  for  it  all.  But  his  generalship  equipped 
him  for  all  emergencies,  and  he  so  managed  such 
cases  that  good  always  came  out  of  them.  The  Wal- 
nut Creek  meeting  was  one  of  power.  God's  Spirit 
was  blessedly  manifest.  Some  were  healed,  others  lay 
over  night  under  divine  powxr,  and  many  were  bless- 
edly saved.  At  times  some  would  be  leaping,  jump- 
ing, shouting  and  running  for  joy.  Fanaticism  put  in 
its  hydra-head  with  the  genuine,  but  it  was  managed 
with  such  skill,  that  the  subject  was  both  cured,  and 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


175 


saved  and  the  work  of  God  went  on  unmolested.  The 
faculty  Mr.  Howard  possessed  of  detecting  a  false  spir- 
it in  a  meeting  always  made  other  ministers  feel  safe 
to  leave  all  management  to  his  control.  Those  who 
were  jealous  of  his  success,  and  opposed  his  manner 
of  work  were  always  glad  to  secure  his  assistance  on 
any  special  occasion. 

Though  it  is  some  eight  years  since  Brother  How- 
ard left  this  country,  much  fruit  remains  to  testify  of 
the  great  victories  there  achieved.  He  has  outgener- 
aled all  his  opposers.  While  getting  along  in  years, 
he  can  look  back  and  behold  many  bright  spots  where 
w^ar  has  been  turned  into  triumph.  Many  that  were 
saved  under  his  labors  have  now  gone  home.  When 
the  great  final  reunion  takes  place,  and  all  appear  be- 
fore the  bar  of  God,  scores  of  precious  souls  saved  in 
these  meetings,  will  bedeck  with  stars  of  rejoicing,  the 
bright  diadem  given  unto  Mr.  Howard  by  the  Lord. 
.   Yours  in  Christ  Jesus, 

J.  W.  Edwards. 


iV6 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

AS  VIEWED  BY  CO-LABORERS.  —  CONTINUED. 

The  first  time  I  met  Mr.  Howard  was  twelve  years 
ago.  He  was  then  engaged  in  the  ever  memorable 
meeting  that  shook  all  Parkdale,  and  in  fact,  stirred 
the  whole  city  of  Topeka. 

I  was  greatly  impressed  with  his  earnestness,  zeal, 
and  generalship.  At  this  time  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Free  Methodist  Church. 

In  the  spring  of  1891  he  united  with  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  church  at  Topeka,  Kansas.  Under  the 
spirit  of  God  he  wonderfully  revived  the  latent  forces 
hidden  there. 

The  fall  of  that  same  year  he  united  with  the  Kansas 
Annual  Conference  of  said  church,  during  its  session 
at  Valley.  After  the  lapse  of  some  five  years,  we  find 
the  conference,  under  his  leadership,  gaining  ground 
in  numbers,  interest,  power,  and  spirituality. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


177 


He  is  wonderfully  possessed  with  that  grace  or 
power  which  enables  him  to  present  eternal  truths 
with  such  force  that  men  and  women,  and  even  chil- 
dren, are  irresistibly  constrained  to  yield  themselves 
into  the  hand  of  God. 

At  the  Ames  conference  four  years  ago  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  he  was  persuaded  to  preach  on  Sabbath 
morning.  He  took  the  stand,  however,  but  did  not 
preach  more  than  twenty  minutes,  till  the  awful  power 
and  presence  of  God  was  overwhelmingly  poured  out 
upon  speaker  and  people.  Because  of  cries,  groans, 
and  shouts  he  could  proceed  no  farther,  but  made  an 
altar  call.  People  came  rushing  in  great  numbers  and 
soon  were  blessedly  saved.  Oh,  what  a  glad  shout 
went  up  that  day,  as  Wesleyans,  Methodists,  Campbel- 
lites,  backsliders,  and  sinners,  ahke  plunged  into  the 
cleansing  flood,  and  were  made  whole. 

There  was  one  scene  occurred  in  this  meeting  which 
I  never  shall  forget.  A  strong  man,  the  ex-sherif?  of 
Cloud  county,  apparently  had  neither  the  strength  to 
sit  down,  nor  the  courage  to  go  forward.  Under  the 
convicting  power  of  God  he  stood  there  weeping,  the 
remainder  of  the  congregation  having  either  sat  down 
or  gone  to  the  altar.  Mr.  Howard  soon  found  his 
way  to  the  brother,  and  with  streaming  eyes,  irresist- 
ible entreaty,  and  by  using  a  little  physical  force,  he 


178 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


succeeded  in  getting  the  man  to  the  altar.  He  was 
sweetly  saved,  having  been  almost  forced  into  the 
kingdom. 

In  the  spring  of  '94  I  was  conducting  a  meeting  at 
Alden,  Kansas.  It  had  J3een  in  progress  four  weeks. 
Mr.  Howard  came  to  my  assistance  for  a  few  nights. 
The'  meeting  having  been  a  success  from  the  begin- 
ning all  wondered  how  it  could  be  bettered.  The  first 
night  every  one  was  curious,  and  all  were  comparing 
the  relative  virtues  of  the  two  preachers.  This  had  a 
tendency  to  lower  the  spiritual  tide  under  which  the 
services  had  been  running.  But  if  ever  a  man  was 
helped  of  God  he  was  the  next  night.  It  was  un- 
earthly. People  screamed,  and  fell  from  their  seats ; 
mothers  g^ave  their  lives  for  their  children ;  fathers 
wept  upon  the  necks  of  their  sons ;  a  Roman  Catholic 
woman  declared  she  would  give  her  life's  blood  for  her 
husband,  and  fell  as  one  dead ;  seekers  fled  to  the 
altar,  jumping  over  seats,  and  the  heads  of  those  in 
the  audience ;  one  man,  a  railroad  hand,  fell  head- 
long over  the  people,  appearing  to  the  onlookers  as  a 
person  diving  through  water.  About  twenty  were 
saved  that  evening. 

In  the  summer  of  '95  I  conducted  a  tabernacle 
meeting  in  Sterling,  Kansas.  During  the  eighth  week 
Mr.  Howard  came  to  pour  deadly  shot  into  the  ene- 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


119 


my's  ranks.  Some  victories  had  been  achieved  under 
the  fire  of  the  devil  and  his  emissaries,  but  as  we  would 
advance  Satan  enlarged  his  fortifications,  and  called 
for  new  volunteers.  Finally,  the  entire  city,  in  soHd 
phalanx,  arrayed  itself  against  us.  The  ministers  and 
church  members  of  all  denominations  united,  and 
erected  a  large  platform,  also  seating  capacity  for 
fifteen  hundred  persons,  near  our  tabernacle.  A  choir 
of  three  hundred  singers  was  organized.  This  made 
us  somewhat  nervous,  but  we  looked  unto  the  Lord. 
On  the  last  Sabbath  of  the  meeting  the  wind  was  in 
their  favor,  thus  the  sound  from  their  choir  and  their 
other  services  would  drown  the  effect  of  our  meeting. 
But  God  willed  it  otherwise.  About  meeting  time  the 
wind  turned.  That  night  Mr.  Howard  seemed  to  en- 
ter the  heavenly  land,  he  preached  with  such  power. 
One  by  one  the  people  began  to  leave  the  other  service. 
Before  the  close  of  the  discourse  their  entire  congrega- 
tion was  surging  around  our  tent,  endeavoring  to  get 
a  glimpse  of  the  speaker.  The  formality  of  an  altar 
call  was  not  followed,  for  the  people  rushed  to  the 
penitent  form  without  being  urged.  The  meeting 
continued  till  after  midnight.  Eternity  alone  will  re- 
veal the  glorious  results  of  that  night's  service. 

The  writer  clearly  remembers  another  time  when 
Mr.  Howard  came  to  aid  him.     It  was  at  a  quarterly 


180 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


meeting  upon  the  Raymond  circuit.  Mr.  Howard 
was  vividly  describing  the  dangerous  condition  of  the 
unsaved  as  they  heedlessly  go  rushing  down  grade, 
with  steam  on,  throttle  open,  brakes  off,  towards  the 
bridgeless,  bottomless  chasm  of  an  endless  hell.  He 
illustrated  the  scene  by  the  following  circumstance:  "A  i 
loaded  passenger  train  was  thundering  down  a  heavy 
decline  unconscious  that  just  below^  a  bridge  was 
washed  out.  The  red  light  was  seen,  the  signal  'down 
breaks'  was  given,  the  engine  reversed,  a  prayer  was 
breathed,  but  to  no  avail.  It  was  too  late !  The 
momentum  was  so  great  that  the  train  plunged  to  a 
certain  death  amid  the  frantic  screams,  and  the  dying 
groans  of  her  human  freight."  The  suspense  of  the 
congregation  during  this  recital  was  awful.  At  the 
moment  he  spoke  of  the  fearful  plunge  of  that  train  a 
young  man  in  the  congregation  screamed  as  though 
he  was  dropping  into  hell. 

I  might  speak  of  many  other  familiar  scenes  and 
pleasant  associations,  but  will  let  these  suffice  to  show 
the  conflicts,  and  the  victories  we  together  enjoyed. 

V.  C.  Taliaferro. 

The  experience  of  entire  sanctification  has  been  en- 
joyed by  me  for  nearly  five  years.  I  was  at  the  Ray- 
mond camp-meeting  when  this  blessed  grace  was  ob- 
tained.    Under  the  plain,  pointed  preaching  of  Mr. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


181 


Howard,  God  made  me  most  uncomfortable.  As  / 
'  the  Word  shined  upon  my  soul,  I  saw  as  never  before, 
the  depth  of  depravity  and  pride,  into  which  my  heart 
had  sunken ;  how  much  I  loved  dress,  fashion,  and 
the  giddy  applause  of  the  world;  what  the  death  I 
must  die  meant;  and  what  a  separation  I  must  make 
from  my  present  conformity  to  the  world,  and  popular 
desires.  Pungent  conviction  came  upon  my  heart,  till 
I  was  in  awful  agony  for  over  forty-eight  hours.  One 
afternoon  when  I  was  in  a  state  of  desperation,  Mr. 
Howard  called  upon  me  to  pray.  From  the  depths  of 
my  soul,  I  cried  out  in  great  agony.  God  immediate- 
ly came  to  my  deliverance,  and  I  sprang  to  my  feet 
shouting  ''Victory."  In  this  blessed  wave  of  glory  I 
went  around  the  tabernacle  shaking  hands  with  every- 
body. I  shall  ever  praise  the  Lord  for  being  per- 
mitted to  attend  one  of  Mr.  Howard's  camp-meetings, 
where  the  light  of  full  salvation  was  revealed  to  me. 

H.  Jennie  Taliaferro. 
[The  subject  of  this  letter  has  been  a  minister  of 
the  gospel  ever  since  this  memorable  day.  She  has 
been  a  pastor  at  several  different  times.  A  few  years 
ago  she  was  ordained  an  Elder  in  the  Church  of  God 
by  the  Kansas  Annual  Conference  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Connection  (or  Church)  of  America. 
— Compilers.] 


182 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  XXVL 
MR.  Howard's  sermons 

Believing  that  a  book  of  this  kind  would  not  be  com- 
plete unless  it  contained  a  few  sermons  as  delivered  by 
Mr.  Howard,  we  herewith  append  some.  He  had  a 
style  pecuHar  to  himself,  which  we  have  endeavored  to 
closely  follow.  His  discourses  contained  all  essential 
qualities  adapted  to  his  work.  Their  power  lay  in 
his  originaHty,  clearness  of  speaking  and  pointedness 
of  illustration.  His  success  in  enlightening  the  mind, 
convincing  the  judgment,  and  influencing  the  will  of 
his  hearers  was  phenomenal.  It  can  be  seen  in  his 
spiritual  discernment.  When  the  cHmax  of  his  dis- 
course was  reached,  and  the  Spirit  was  swaying,  as  in 
a  tempest,  the  hearts  of  men,  he  immediately  stopped, 
i  that  the  effect  of  his  burning  words  be  not  lost.  A 
blessed  quality  to  be  possessed,  an  ability  to  be  cov- 
eted, a  success  to  be  emulated,  is  his  skill  in  quit- 
ting when  through. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


183 


An  Earthquake  Revival. 
In  all  ages  God  has  had  his  witnesses  to  these  earth- 
quake revivals.  Every  reader  of  the  Bible  and  history 
know  something  of  these  powerful  refreshings  as  they 
occurred  in  the  time  of  the  Apostles ;  their  immediate 
followers ;  of  John  Huss,  Luther,  Wycliffe,  Wesley, 
Roberts,  and  others.  They  were  all  endued  with  the 
spiritual  dynamite  of  the  Word.  Charles  G.  Finney 
was  miraculously  filled  with  this  gracious  gift. 
Charged  with  this  experience  he  walked  into  a  cotton 
mill,  and  stood  amid  the  roar  of  three  hundred  looms. 
His  countenance  was  radiant  with  celestrial  fire.  Every 
operator  became  speechless  and  spellbound  under  the 
melting  look  of  this  man  of  God.  They  became  so 
confused  that  they  could  not  proceed  with  their  work. 
A  solemn  awe  settled  o'er  each  one.  They  felt  like 
the  angel  of  death  had  come  to  judge  the  world.  As 
they  were  looking  him  in  the  face  pungent  conviction 
settled  upon  them.  The  ungodly  proprietor  did  not 
escape  the  lasso  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  ordered  the 
mill  to  be  stopped,  and  all  work  to  be  suspended.  He 
said  to  all  the  laborers,  'Tt  is  no  time  to  run  a  cotton 
mill,  but  we  must  look  after  the  salvation  of  our  souls. 
I,  myself,  am  an  awful  sinner,  and  need  to  be  saved. 
Hence  we  turn  the  mill  over  to  this  man  of  God." 
This  occurred  before  Mr.  Finney  had  spoken  a  word. 


184 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


Strong  men  and  proud  women  fell  on  the  floor  all 
around  and  began  crying  for  mercy.  This  power  is 
essential  to  the  success  of  every  meeting.  -Only  as  it 
is  possessed  by  speaker  and  professor  will  anything  be 
accomplished  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 

Benjamin  Abbott,  one  of  Bishop  Asbury's  circuit 
riders  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  was  a  remark- 
able example  of  this  wonderful  outpouring.  As  he 
passed  on  his  pastoral  rounds  it  was  a  common  thing 
to  see  nearly  the  whole  of  his  congregations  fall  pros- 
trate while  he  was  preaching.  Their  physical  power 
would  be  completely  overcome  until  they  were  either 
saved  or  sanctified.  It  was  this  possessed  spiritual 
dynamite  that  accomplished  these  glorious  results, 
and  that  slayed  hundreds  and  thousands  as  by  a  single 
stroke  of  God's  mighty  hand. 

During  the  camp-meetings  held  in  Bourbon  county^ 
Kentucky,  the  power  of  God  was  so  wonderfully  mani- 
fest that  thousands  of  people  came  for  hundreds  of 
miles  to  witness  these  miraculous  services.  James  B. 
Finley  says  he  traveled  from  Ohio  on  horse-back  in 
order  to  satisfy  his  curiosity  respecting  the  report  cir- 
culated about  these  revivals.  He  was  an  obdurate 
sinner,  and  defied  this  slaying,  jerking  power  about 
which  so  much  had  been  said.  With  Satan  to  help 
him,  he  determined  to  resist  every  conviction  of  the 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


Spirit.  He  wished  to  prove  to  the  world  that  one  sin- 
ner, at  least,  was  more  than  a  match  for  this  strange 
and  unaccountable  manifestation.  But  he  fell  a  vic- 
tim to  its  power,  and  was  ''thoroughly"  converted.  He 
became  a  champion  preacher  of  Methodism.  Among 
the  extraordinary  scenes  he  describes  was  the  follow- 
ing: ''A  multitude  of  twenty-five  thousand  people 
had  congregated.  About  twenty  preachers  dispersed 
among  this  vast  concourse,  and  upon  boxes,  stumps,, 
wagons,  and  rocks,  preached  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent 
down  from  heaven,  till  the  people  were  crying  and  fall- 
ing in  every  direction.  On  one  occasion  he  saw  at  one 
time  five  hundred  people  fall  to  the  ground  as  sudden- 
ly as  if  a  battery  of  one  thousand  guns  had  swept  their 
ranks  with  immense  broadsides.  After  about  fifteen 
minutes  of  wailings,  pleadings,  jerkings,  and  agoniz- 
ing, they  arose  like  a  mighty  swell  of  the  sea  and  made 
the  air  resound  and  reverberate  with  deafening  shouts 
of  triumph." 

Many  times  have  I  witnessed  this  same  wonderful, 
supernatural,  inexplicable  power  in  my  own  meetings. 

In  a  meeting  at  Soul  Chapel,  Pulaski  county,  Ken- 
tucky, this  power  was  manifested.  Many  fell,  hav- 
ing lost  the  strength  to  either  stand  or  walk.  This  oc- 
curred not  only  at  the  altar,  but  throughout  the  house. 
The  aisles  were  blocked  with  the  slain  of  the  Lord. 


186 


TWENTY  YEA.es  OF 


I  can  say  with  G.  D.  Watson,  that  in  these  latter 
days,  "We  need  an  earthquake  revival — a  revival  in  < 
which  no  one  will  ever  raise  for  prayers,  but  where 
they  fall  and  pray  for  themselves ;  where  they  weep 
and  mourn  and  make  the  doctors  think  they  are  in- 
sane ;  a  revival  that  will  make  preachers  forget  their 
manuscripts  and  burst  out  and  weep  in  the  pulpit.  I 
declare  in  the  presence  of  God,  and  his  host  that  I  am 
ready  for  just  such  a  moral  scene.  :•  Nothing  is  so  / 
alarming  as  the  utter  absence  of  alarm  in  the  churches ; 
nothing  is  so  dreadfully  terrific  to  my  mind  as  that 
sinners  have  no  terror.  Oh,  that  God  would  so  bap- 
tize with  fire,  a  thousand  people,  as  to  render  them  in- 
comprehensible amazements  of  power!  Oh,  for  a 
few  men  so  dead  to  all  things  but  God,  and  so  filled 
with  him  as  to  make  them  more  than  a  match  for  the 
rest  of  mankind !  Oh,  thou  triune  God  of  Sinai,  Cal- 
vary, and  Pentecost,  art  thou  not  now  nursing  under 
the  horizon,  the  Hghtning,  and  thunder,  and  rain  of  an 
amazing  hohness  revival?  Lord,  let  it  come.  Let  it  * 
strike  our  nation.  Though  it  may  thrust  our  fairs  and 
festivals  in  the  gutter,  blow  the  French  music  out  of 
our  choirs,  and  the  feathers  out  of  our  bonnets; 
though  it  should  confound  all  the  wise  ones  and  be 
understood  by  no  one  but  thy  divine  self,  let  it  come. 
Thou  art  the  master  of  thine  own  tempest.    Oh,  send 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


187 


us  a  storm  of  the  Holy  Ghost  before  thou  sendest  the 
storm  of  the  judgment.  When  such  a  revival  strikes 
:a  church,  or  community  it  will  make  people  awfully 
mad,  or  awfully  happy/' 

Lord,  send  us  an  earthquake  revival  before  it  is  too 
late,  before  men  go  to  their  reward  in  a  lost  and  ruined 
condition.  "These  that  have  turned  the  world  up- 
side down  are  come  hither  also."   Acts  17:6. 

Sermon  on  Holiness. 

Text,  I.  John  3:8:  ''He  that  committeth  sin  is  of  the 
■devil,  for  the  devil  sinneth  from  the  beginning.  For 
this  purpose  the  Son  of  God  was  manifested  that  he 
might  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil." 

The  devil  is,  or  generally  supposed  to  be,  a  fallen 
angel.  He  was  in  heaven  once,  and  enjoyed  it  with 
all  that  heaven  meant.  But  becoming  proud  and  am- 
bitious, he  wanted  to  rule  heaven.  Michael  and  his 
angels  fought  against  the  dragon  and  his  angels,  and 
overcame  them,  and  cast  them  out  of  heaven  down  to 
earth.  When  the  devil  was  cast  out  all  the  glory 
world  rejoiced ;  but  all  earth  mourned,  and  has  been 
in  mourning  ever  since,  because  of  the  devil  and  his 
w^orks.  Now  Jesus  tells  us  that  for  this  purpose  He 
came  to  ''destroy  the  works  of  the  devil."  Whatever 
the  devil  did,  our  Lord  came  to  undo.    What  did  the 


188 


TWENTY  YEARS  OE 


devil  do?  I  see  our  foreparents  in  the  garden  of 
Eden.  They  are  walking  in  the  midst  of,  talking 
about,  and  enjoying  the  beauties  and  glories  of  that 
Eden  home,  in  their  spotless  innocence  and  purity.  So 
far  as  guilt  is  concerned,  they  are  as  innocent  as  God. 
Their  Creator,  in  whose  image  and  likeness  they  were 
created,  came  down  from  heaven.  He  walked  with 
them,  and  they  communed  together. 

One  day  the  Lord  came  down  to  visit  the  happy  pair, 
but  he  failed  to  find  them.  He  looked  around  at  their 
accustomed  haunt,  but  still  failed  to  ascertain  their 
whereabouts.  He  called,  ^'Adam,  where  art  thou?'' 
He  looked  again  and  beheld  them  sitting  under  a  fig 
tree,  sewing  fig  leaves  together,  that  they  might  hide 
their  nakedness.  Said  God,  ''Who  told  you  that  you 
were  naked?''  Something  had  happened ;  things  were 
not  the  same.  'Just  as  soon  as  they  received  the  dev-  * 
irs  lie  in  their  heart,  they  knew  they  were  naked.  That 
moment,  too,  they  lost  the  image  of  God  from  their 
heart.  With  this  sad  catastrophe  the  whole  human 
family  went  down  in  a  crash.  This  is  what  the  devil 
did.  '  Now,  whatever  is  sinful  connected  with  the  fall^  ^ 
Jesus  came  to  destroy  it.  He  came  not  only  to  de- 
stroy the  works  of  the  devil,  but  to  bring  the  human 
family  back  to  a  state  of  innocence  and  purity — restore 
us  to  what  we  lost  in  the  fall. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


189 


I  see  this  bad  temper  we  have  came  with  the  fall. 
We  all  came  into  the  world  with  it.  Even  the  babies 
have  it.  How  many  times  have  you  seen  them  throw 
themselves  on  the  floor,  slobber  at  the  mouth,  tear 
their  hair,  fight  everybody  and  everything  around 
them,  and  want  to  rule  things  in  general.  The  nature 
or  disposition  in  that  child  can  never  enter  heaven.  It 
can  not  be  forgivem  The  reason  it  cannot  enter 
heaven  is  because  it  is  unholy.  #  Should  it  be  per- 
mitted to  enter  that  land  of  purity,  war  would  again 
be  declared  there  inside  of  five  minutes. 
.  The  reason  this  bad  temper  cannot  be  forgiven,  is 
because  the  child  is  not  responsible  for  it.  It  was 
born  in  the  child.  Now  since  God  will  not  permit  it 
to  enter  heaven,  he  has  made  provision  for  its  destruc- 
tion. The  provision  is  that  it  be  cleansed  out  by  the 
precious  blood  of  Jesus. 

This  nature  is  not  only  in  the  little  babies,  but  is  in 
the  big  babies  also,  if  it  has  not  been  cleansed  out.  It 
is  the  tap  root  of  all  sin.  All  evil  grows  from  it.  It 
is  inherited,  and  will  cause  us  to  lose  our  souls,  except 
it  be  destroyed.  Jesus  came  to  take  it  out.  'God  or-" 
dained  that  we  should  be  holy,  and  walk  before  him 
blameless  in  love.  Titus  tells  us  that  ''denying  un- 
godliness and  worldly  lust,  we  should  live  soberly, 
righteously,  and    godly  in  this  present  world.  Paul 


190 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


tells  us  in  the  fifth  chapter  of  Ephesians  that  the  church 
is  to  be  holy,  without  spot,  wrinkle  or  any  such  thing. 
Jesus  says,  "AH  power  is  given  unto  me  both  in 
heaven,  and  in  earth."  All  the  power  vested  in  the 
Father  is  delegated  to  the  Son  to  carry  out  this  great 
plan,  the  destruction  of  the  works  of  the  devil  in  us^ 
'  and  to  finally  bring  us  home  to  glory. 

We  are  told  in  L  John  that  ''If  we  confess  our  sins,, 
he  (Jesus)  is  just  and  faithful  to  forgive  us  our  sins, 
and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness."  Here  is 
mentioned  both  forgiveness,  and  cleansing.  What 
cannot  be  forgiven  can  be  cleansed.  Again  we  are 
taught  in  the  Bible  that  we  are  to  be  dead  indeed  to 
sin,  but  alive  to  God.  .The  cross  means  death.-  We 
are  to  be  crucified  with  Christ.  The  man  or  woman 
who  goes  through  this  experience  will  know  some- 
thing of  the  suflferings  of  Jesus  in  the  garden.  When 
carnality  dies  there  will  be  a  struggle.  Some  people 
go  upon  the  cross,  but  come  down  again  before  they 
are  dead.  Others  go  through  the  form  of  crucifixion 
and  play  dead.  Once  while  going  to  school  in  my 
boyhood  days  with  my  sister,  we  saw  an  opossum  just 
ahead  of  us.  We  gave  chase  and  scared  the  animal 
up  a  small  bush.  We  tried  to  shake  him  off.  With 
a  dull  thud  he  finally  fell  to  the  ground,  turning  over 
on  his  back.     He  looked  like  he  was  dead.     I  said 


EEVIVAL  EFFORT. 


191 


to  my  sister,  "He  is  dead.  He  must  have  killed  him- 
self in  falling."  But  for  fear  that  he  might  not  be 
dead,  I  took  a  large  club  and  beat  that  'possum  until 
I  thought  there  wasn't  a  bone  in  its  body.  We  re- 
sumed our  journey,  but  had  not  gone  more  than  ten 
rods,  until  we  chanced  to  look  around,  and  there  was 
our  'possum  slyly  running  away.  He  wasn't  dead  at 
all.  He  played  dead.  A  great  many  people  are 
just  lil<:e  that  'possum.  They  say  they  are  cru- 
cified, and  dead  to  the  world.  But  in  reality 
they  are  only  playing  dead.  Under  trial  or 
temptation  there  goes  your  '"possum."  We  must 
stay  on  the  cross  until  we  are  dead.  Don't  come  down 
too  soon.  When  the  old  Jew  put  his  sacrifice  upon 
the  altar,  and  the  fire  of  God  came  down  and  con- 
sumed  it,  it  was  burned  head,  hoofs,  horns,  and  all. 
There  was  no  more  horning,  no  more  kicking,  no 
more  balking.  So  will  it  be  with  the  soul  who  has 
really  died  the  death  to  self,  and  been  made  alive  in 
Christ. 

There  are  some  who  try  to  receive  the  experience,, 
or  desire  to  have  the  works  of  the  devil  destroyed  in 
other  ways  than  in  God's  appointed  manner.  The 
Word  says,  ''Present  your  bodies  a  living  sacrifice." 
So  many  ofifer  God  a  dead  sacrifice.  Such  he  will  not 
accept.    I  once  preached  a  sermon  on    holiness  to  a. 


192 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


large  congregation.  After  this  they  had  class  meet- 
ing. A  good  brother,  a  spiritual  man,  was  unusually 
tlessed  during  the  meeting,  going  over  the  house 
shaking  hands  with  everybody.  At  the  close  of  the 
:service  he  threw  his  arms  around  me,  and  said,  ''Come, 
go  home  with  me.  I  want  to  convince  you  that  I  got 
it  all  when  I  was  converted."  I  replied,  'Til  go  home 
with  you,  but  I  won't  argue  the  matter."  He  lived 
just  at  the  outskirts  of  town.  While  he  was  at  meet- 
ing getting  blessed,  his  hogs  at  home  were  rooting  up 
the  potatoes.  When  he  drove  up  to  the  house,  all 
over  the  patch  the  potatoes  could  be  seen  brightly 
shining  in  the  sun.  The  man  grew  red  in  the  face,** 
handed  the  lines  to  me,  and  said  with  some  emphasis, 
w.  "Hold  these  Hues."  The  patch  contained  about  an 
acre  of  ground  all  paled  in.  He  jumped  out  of  the 
wagon,  and  into  the  patch,  and  ran  the  hogs  round  and 
round.  Hog  like,  they  refused  to  go  out  of  the  patch 
at  the  place  they  entered.  He  grew  redder  and  redder 
in  the  face.  Finally  he  called  to  his  wife  in  a  com- 
manding, angry  tone  of  voice  to  hand  him  the  pitch 
fork  leaning  against  the  house.  She  saw  he  was  unus- 
ually stirred,  and  refused  to  give  it  to  him.  He  then 
called  the  dogs,  exclaiming  with  chnched  teeth,  'Til 
Tcill  everyone  of  them."  Presently  the  pigs  went  out, 
and  he  stood  there  in  the  potato  patch    flushed  with 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


193 


anger  and  carnality.  As  he  approached  the  wagon, 
where  I  was  still  holding  the  team,  I  said  to  him, 
''Do  you  now  see  anything  of  the  carnal  nature?"  As 
quick  as  a  flash  he  saw  it.  -Being  an  honest  man  he,/ 
fell  upon  his  knees  in  the  garden,  and  there  cried  to 
God  to  destroy^the  works  of  the  devil  in  him.  God 
powerfully  delivered  him. 

Carvosso  said,  ''When  I  received  this  experience  it 
was  like  a  thousand  suns  at  noonday.  It  is  without 
bottom  or  shore.''  This  is  the  experience  of  every 
man  or  woman  who  has  had  the  works  of  the  devil  de- 
stroyed, and  who  has  known  what  it  really  means  to  be 
■dead  indeed  to  sin,  and  to  live  a  Hfe  hid  with  Christ  in  . 
God.  They  live  where  the  birds  sing  night  and  day, 
where  the  sun  goes  not  down,  and  where  fragrant  flow- 
ers are  forever  blossoming.  They  are  lost  in  wonder, 
love  and  praise.     It  is  one  glorious  eternal  day. 

Text,  Prov.  22:6:  "Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he 
•should  go ;  and  when  he  is  old,  he  will  not  depart  from 
it." 

This  is  not  to  be  in  the  way  it  wants  to  go,  but  the 
way  it  should  go.  We  see  nowadays  many  fathers 
and  mothers  living  with  their  children — boarding  with 
them.  Some  not  yet  five  years  old,  are  running  the 
liouse  as  they  please.    One  day  I  was  in  one  of  these 


194 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


homes.  '  A  five  year  old  chap  was  bossing  everything^ 
and  flinging  articles  in  every  direction.  His  mother 
said  to  me,  "If  you  had  such  a  boy,  what  would  you 
do  with  him?"  I  replied,  ''I  would  preach  holiness  ta 
him  for  about  five  minutes  at  the  end  of  a  rod.'' 
r  One  of  the  nicest  things  in  this  lower  world  is  a  well- 
regulated  family  government.  Without  that  nine  out 
of  every  ten  of  our  children  will  either  fill  prisons  or 
houses  of  shame.  -  Because  of  this  lack  many  girls  ' 
not  yet  fifteen  years  old  are  promenading  the  streets 
at  all  hours  of  the  day,  and  sometimes  until  a  late 
hour  at  night. 

One  time  I  was  conducting  a  meetmg  in  a  neighbor- 
hood where  the  oldest  daughter  of  a  nice  family  sick- 
ened and  died.  She  passed  away  unsaved  as  far  as 
anyone  knew.  The  mother  became  almost  frantic 
with  grief.  The  thought  of  her  daughter  meeting 
God  unprepared  distressed  her  to  such  an  extent  that 
she  roamed  the  fields,  wrung  her  hands,  and  cried  out 
in  utter  despair,  ''Oh,  if  I  only  knew  Mary  was  saved, 
I  could  give  her  up."  I  was  called  to  see  if  I  could 
not  do  something  to  quiet  her.  Said  I,  'Tf  the  devil 
could  put  you  in  the  asylum,  all  hell  would  have  a. 
jubilee  over  it.  Mary  is  gone.  She  is  in  the  hands  ol" 
a  just  God.  Your  screaming  and  wringing  of  hands, 
will  never  change  Mary's  state,  nor  help  her  eternal 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


195 


welfare.  The  devil  has  started  you  after  the  dead 
child,  and  you  are  unmindful  of  the  living  ones.  Here 
is  Jane,  Susan,  William,  and  Simon ;  all  are  unsaved. 
Why  don't  you  scream  for  them?  Call  upon  God  for 
the  living,  andltot  for  the  one  who  is  past  help.  How 
many  sleepless  nights  have  you  spent  crying  for  the 
children  who  are  unsaved?"  Fathers,  mothers,  per- 
haps you  read  at  family  worship  this  morning,  ''The 
wicked  shall  be  turned  into  hell,  and  all  the  nations 
that  forget  God.''  There  sat  the  unsaved  children. 
Does  father  or  mother  act  like  they  were  lost?  -  Surely 
if  you  parents  see  your  children  as  you  will  at  the  last 
day,  youi  would  be  weeping,  lamenting,  and  groaning 
until  God  would  save  them.  The  judgment  day  will 
reveal  awful  things.  Parents,  let  me  exhort  you  to  do 
your  screaming  and  wringing  of  hands  now !  There 
are  many  homes  in  the  land  which  might  be  happy, 
but  for  the  dark  shadow  of  wretchedness  thrown  over 
them  by  disobedient  sons  and  daughters.  *'  Many  a 
father  has  a  withering  blight  cast  upon  him  in  old  age, 
and  his  gray  hairs  brought  down  with  sorrow  to  the 
grave ;  and  many  a  mother  is  bowed  in  broken-hearted 
anguish  on  the  account  of  the  rude,  cruel,  and  undu- 
tiful  conduct  of  those  who  might  have  made  their  last 
days,  their  brightest  and  best.  What  base  ingratitude 
marks  the  sin  of  disobedience  to  parents. 


196 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


Children,  in  helpless  days  of  infancy  your  father 
and  mother  watched  over  you ;  in  sickness  they  spent 
long  and  sleepless  nights  attending  you;  their  tears 
fell  in  copious  showers  upon  your  couch,  when  dan- 
gerous symptoms  of  disease  appeared;  for  you  they 
planned,  and  toiled,  and  exercised  self-denial.  Much 
of  this  was  bestowed  before  you  were  conscious  of 
such  love.  .  ' 

Dear  children,  remember,  these  parents  will  not  al- 
w^ays  be  with  you.  A  few  more  years  and  they  will  be 
laid  away  in  the  silent  tomb.  You  should  be  kind  to 
them  while  they  are  here.  If  not,  as  you  view  their 
grass-covered  graves,  your  sleeping  conscience  may 
be  awakened,  and  make  your  soul  tremble  under  its 
blasting  rebuke,  as  you  remember  the  past ;  but  it  will 
be  too  late.  The  most  pitiful  sight  I  ever  saw  was 
the  bitter  remorse  of  a  wicked,  disobedient  son  at  the 
grave  of  his  mother.  "Oh,"  said  he,  "if  I  had  her 
back  for  just  one  hour,  that,  on  my  knees,  I  might  ask 
her  forgiveness." 

We  shall  never  pass  this  way  but  once.  Heaven 
once  lost  is  forever  lost.  For,  "Whatsoever  a  man 
soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap." 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


197 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

AS  A  PRESIDING  OFFICER. 


Mr.  Howard's  ability  to  officially  lead  was  soon  rec- 
ognized by  those  w^ith  whom  he  associated  in  delibera- 
tive assemblies.  He  began  his  career  too  late  in  life, 
however,  to  make  the  necessary  intellectual  culture,  or 
equip  himself  with  such  literary  attainments,  as  would 
make  him  what  the  world,  and  perhaps,  some  of  his 
brethren,  consider  an  imposing,  gifted,  or  polished 
executive  officer.  At  the  same  time,  men  whose 
sense  of  propriety  was  sometimes  shocked  at  some 
technical  breach  of  parlimentary  usage,  marveled  and 
we  sometimes  have  fancied,  envied,  his  phenomenal 
success  to  manage  an  assembly  so  that  the  greatest 
possible  good  w^ould  result  to  all  concerned.  In  fact 
Mr.  Howard  had  never  studied  to  perfect  himself  in 
the  technical  points  of  parliamentary  law,  nor  did  he 


198 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


seek  to  fill  an  executive  office  with  that  studied  nicety 
so  often  considered  the  essential  characteristic  of  a 
presiding  officer. 

After  having  served  the  Free  Methodist  Church  in  the 
north-west  for  several  years,in  a  capacity  requiring  the 
utmost  skill  and  generalship,  he  was  entrusted  with 
the  financial  agency  of  Orleans  Seminary.  He  was 
.  also  given  the  responsibiHty  as  one  of  the  trustees,  to 
personally  oversee  the  building  while  in  process  of 
erection.  The  successful  culmination  of  this  enter- 
prise gained  for  him  sufficient  reputation  as  to 
commend  him  at  once  to  the  brethren  in  South-east 
Kansas,  who  had  undertaken  an  enterprise  of  like 
character.  Here  he  was  made  financial  agent  of  Ne- 
osho Rapids  Seminary,  and  elected  chairman  of  the 
board  of  trustees.  He  was  afterwards  elected  Dis- 
trict Elder  of  the  Lawrence  District.  After  this  he 
was  given  the  District  Eldership  of  the  Lawrence 
and  Emporia  districts ;  still  later  he  received  over- 
sight of  the  Lawrence,  Emporia,  and  Wichita  districts. 
This  position  he  filled  for  five  consecutive  years,  with 
success  and  acceptability. 

When  he  transferred  his  membership  to  the  Wes- 
leyan  Methodist  church,  he  transferred  his  holy  zeal 
good  will,  and  generalship  as  well.  The  Kansas 
Conference  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  had  re- 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


199 


<:ently  suffered  from  internal  disruption,  and  had  been 
in  peril  among  ''false  brethren."  When  Mr.  How- 
ard came  among  them,  they  at  once  recognized  in  him 
the  man  whom  God  had  sent  to  infuse  new  life  and 
energy  into  the  hearts  of  the  brethren. 

The  conference  had  been  making  noble  efforts  to 
regain  her  footing — recover  ground  which  had  been 
wrested  from  them.  It  was  now  only  waiting  for  an 
opportunity  to  make  some  aggressive  movement  which 
would  again  put  it  in  active  warfare,  instead  of  follow- 
ing the  tread-mill  process  of  keeping  eight  or  ten 
circuits  alive  as  it  had  been  heretofore  compelled  to 
do.  It  had  been  on  the  defensive,  instead  of  assum- 
ing the  aggressive  as  it  should  have  done.  The  com- 
ing of  Mr.  Howard  put  it  on  the  offensive.  His  first 
appointment,  to  labor  among  the  churches  during  the 
winter,  and  to  manage  the  conference  tabernacle 
throughout  the  summer,  was  one  in  which  his  general- 
ship was  displayed  to  such  an  extent,  that  the  confer- 
ence once  more  felt  free  to  say  that  its  life  was  its 
own.  Shortly  after  Mr.  Howard's  trip  through  the 
conference,  and  his  labor  among  the  churches,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  conference,  the  highest  and 
most  responsible  position  at  the  disposal  of  said  body. 
This  office  Mr.  Howard  continues  to  hold,  being  now 
in  his  sixth  successive   term.    Under   his  manage- 


200 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


ment  many  new  circuits  and  charges  have  been  added 
to  the  conference,  and  many  of  our  most  successful 
preachers  have  been  brought  into  the  ministry.  The 
success  which  has  attended  his  efforts  as  president 
of  the  conference  has  not  been  due  alone  to  his  manage- 
ment, but  we  firmly  believe  that  much  of  it  lies  in  his 
abihty  to  enthuse,  and  encourage  the  hearts  of  the 
workers  with  whom  he  was  associated.  While  at 
times  he  may  have  been  a  little  lax  in  his  administra- 
tive ability,  yet  no  one  could  truly  accuse  him  of  ever 
driving  the  Spirit  of  God  from  a  deliberative  assembly 
by  rigidly  adhering  to  the  letter  of  the  law.  We  re- 
member a  very  striking  incident  of  how  the  Spirit  of 
God  was  permitted  to  rule,  when  Mr.  Howard  occu- 
pied the  presidential  chair.  It  was  during  the  busi- 
ness session  of  an  annual  conference.  A  lady  arose, 
and  interrupting  the  service,  said,  "Mr.  President, 
would  it  be  out  of  order  for  me  to  praise  the  Lord?'' 
''No,  certainly  not,"  he  responded.  "Praising  the 
Lord  is  always  in  order."  God's  power  fell  upon  the 
sister,  and  her  face  looked  like  that  of  an  angel  as  she 
poured  forth  her  praise  and  gratitude  to  God.  Suf- 
fice  it  to  say  that  she  was  not  the  only  one  who  was 
soon  shouting.  Those  who  were  present  that  day  will 
never  forget  that  hour  of  rich  refreshing  in  the  busi- 
ness session  of  an  annual  conference. 


REVIVAL  EFFORT.  201 

When  Mr.  Howard  united  with  the  conference,  it 
was  at  a  low  ebb,  both  spiritually  and  numerically.  It  is 
not  so  now.  In  lay  membership  it  has  much  more 
than  doubled ;  in  preachers  it  has  thribbled ;  in  divine 
life  and  power  it  has  excelled  anything  for  years  past. 
The  following  account  of  an  annual  conference  ses- 
sion, held  at  North  Branch,  Jewell  county,  Kansas, 
September  i-6,  1896,  will  vividly  illustrate  the  above: 
'Tt  was  called  to  order  by  that  man  of  God,  Rev.  G.  B.  » 
Howard.  From  first  to  last,  there  was  salvation  all 
along  the  line.  I  never  have  in  all  my  life  met  such 
an  unselfish  body  of  men,  each  preferring  the  other. 
And,  O  glory!  as  we  met  in  the  various  sittings  it 
seemed  that  the  very  powers  of  God,  and  the  mellow 
light  of  heaven  were  upon,  and  among  the  brethren. 
When  I  first  entered  the  tent  on  my  arrival  I  felt  as 
though  I  should  take  ofif  my  shoes,  for  I  realized  I  was 
standing  on  holy  ground.  O,  praise  the  Lord  for  a 
,  salvation  that  brings  the  hearts  and  minds  of  men  and  - 
women  in  touch  with  each  other,  and  with  God.  I  ' 
never  have  in  all  my  life  found  a  company  of  people  to- 
gether where  there  was  such  union  of  feeHng  and 
spirit,  and  I  have  never  felt  so  perfectly  at  home 
among  a  strange  body  of  men.  And  be  it  said  to  the 
praise  of  our  blessed  Master,  that  from  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  conference  the  power  of  God  was  upon  the 


202 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


people.  As  the  business  of  the  conference  was  being 
carried  forward  there  were  shouts  of  praise  heard,  and 

♦  floods  of  light  and  love  from  the  throne  of  God  filled 
the  place.  I  could  but  exclaim,  'Truly,  the  Lord  is 
in  this  place.'  Oh,  how  He  did  bless  His  people  as 
they  pHed  themselves  to  the  work  of  the  assembly. 
I  never  witnessed  such  outbursts  of  the  love  and  the 
power  of  God  as  fell  upon  that  body  in  its  business 
sessions.  Wave  after  wave  of  salvation  swept  through 
the  tent,  so  that  the  deliberations  would  have  to  stop 
while  the  people  gave  thanks  to  the  Lord ;  and  in  all 
the  religious  services  the  power  of  God  was  upon  the 
preacher  and  people.  Shouts  of  praise  and  songs 
of  joy  seemed  to  be  the  order  of  the  day.  *  Strong  men 

'would  weep  like  children,  and  leap  Hke  the  hart.  Men 
and  women  would  fall  as  dead.  Souls  were  saved  and 
sanctified.  Ornaments  of  the  body  were  thrown  ofif, 
and  the  people  took  the  blood  and  fire  line  for  God  and 
heaven." 

The  following  resolutions  as  passed  by  the  above 
conference,  show  the  esteem  with  which  Mr.  Howard 
was  regarded  by  his  brethren: 

Whereas,  Our  beloved  president.  Elder  G.  B.  Hovv- 
ard,  having  so  patiently  presided  over  our  sessions  ;  be- 
ing indeed  an  example  to  the  brethren;  God  having 
so  gloriously  approved  of  the  work  by  special  descent 


\  REVIVAL  EFFORT.  203 

/ 

of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  every  business  meeting,  and 
because  we  love  him,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  in  conference  session  do  hereby 
■express  our  hearts  in  thankfulness,  and  pray  God's 
richest  blessings  upon  him  and  his  labors  for  the  fu- 
ture. 

Resolved,  That  we  hereby  declare  that  we  intend,  by 
God's  sustaining  grace,  to  be  more  efficient  workers 
in  the  vineyard  with  Brother  Howard,  for  the  spread- 
ing of  gospel  holiness  this  conference  year  than  ever 
before. 

Resolved,  That  we  love  Brother  Howard,  and  not 
desiring  to  wait  to  say  all  the  good  things  about  him 
in  funeral  services,  we  do  now  extend  our  most  heartfelt 
appr.eciation  to  him,  and  invoke  God's  richest  blessings 
upon  him  in  all  his  labors  while  in  this  sin-cursed 
world,  and  a  crown  of  many  stars  in  heaven  for  the 
souls  won  to  God. 


4k 


204  TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

NEWSPAPER  ACCOUNTS. 

Wherever  Mr.  Howard  had  labored  in  revival  effort 
the  secular  and  religious  press  spoke  in  highest  terms 
of  the  good  accomplished,  and  encouraged  him  to 
continue  his  labors  in  their  midst.  Many  flattering 
newspaper  accounts  have  appeared  from  time  to  time^ 
but  very  few  of  them  have  ever  been  preserved.  It 
was  never  thought  that  they  might  be  needed  for  an 
occasion  of  this  kind.  In  this  chapter,  however,  we 
give  some  gleaned  reports  which  will  show  how  the 
labors  of  Mr.  Howard  have  been  generally  regarded 
by  the  people.  He  never  conducted  any  revival  any- 
where without  leaving  such  beneficial  results  that  both 
the  press  and  people  were  anxious  to  have  him  return. 

Gospel  Meeting. 

They  had  a  wonderful  meeting  last  night  at  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Tabernacle  on  First  street.  Six 
or  eight  were  converted.    Among  this  number  was 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


205 


Joe  Young.  [This  was  the  man  who  was  spoken  of 
in  the  chapter  on  ''Remarkable  Conversions/'  It  there 
gives  an  account  of  his  being  saved  from  the  awfui 
drink  habit,  arid  of  the  glorious  experience  he  re- 
ceived.— Compilers.]  Rev.  G.  B.  Howard  preached  a 
powerful  sermon  on  Repentance  and  Confession  that 
seemed  to  get  down  under  everything  and  everybody. 
They  have  large  congregations  and  the  best  of  order. 
Much  good  is  being  done  in  these  meetings.  Let 
every  body  go.  RIeeting  every  night  this  week. — Ok- 
lahoma Daily  Press  Gazette. 

Rev.  A.  T.  Jennings,  Editor  of  the  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist,asked  of  Mr. Howard  this  question:  ''What  means 
have  you  found  the  most  effective  in  persuading  men 
to  leave  the  lodge  and  follow  Christ?"  He  answered 
it  as  follows,  to  which  is  appended  a  verification  by 
Rev.  L.  Wing. 

'Tn  vain  the  net  is  spread  in  sight  of  any  bird." 
I  don't  first  bore  into  a  man  or  a  system  to  put  dyna- 
mite in.  I  first  have  to  heat  iron  to  successfully  fash- 
ion it  for  use.  Now  you  get  the  thought.  I  lay  the 
dynamite  of  truth  so  close  down  beside  the  lodge  sys- 
tem, and  every  other  wrong  as  well,  that  when  it  ex- 
plodes— for  explode  it  will — it  tears  it  to  atoms.  Now 
to  the  point.  I  seek  to  awaken  men's  consciences  by 
the  searching  truth  of  God  thereby  breaking,  melting, 


206  TWENTY  YEARS  OF 

subduing,  and  causing  the  heart  to  accept  Christ  to 
save,  and  that  every  habit,  practice,  association,  and 
relationship  that  cannot  fully  take  Christ  with  and  in- 
to it,  must  be  abandoned,  given  up,  let  alone,  or  for- 
feit salvation.  I  turn  on  the  light  of  God's  burning 
truth ;  men  see  it.  The  Spirit,  like  dynamite,  explodes 
the  mists,  and  men  gladly  and  readily  give  up  the 
whole  thing. 

While  I  copy  the  above  or  within  reply  to  your 
question  to  Brother  Howard,  I  wish  to  add  my  testi- 
mony, as  I  have  studied  Brother  Howard's  mode  for 
the  past  year  of  getting  hold  of  men,  that  the  above,  in 
brief,  defines  the  ''means"  by  which  he  is  made  "effec- 
tive" in  persuading  people  to  give  up  this  and  every 
other  form  of  idolatry.  To  illustrate:  One  night  af- 
ter a  powerful  meeting.  Brother  Howard  accepted  the 
invitation  to  go  home  with  a  family.  On  the  way  he 
overheard  the  wife  say  to  the  husband,  *' John,  John,  ♦ 
if  I  didn't  think  while  Brother  Howard  was  preaching, 
that'  the  feathers  on  my  hat  were  all  on  fire."  The 
first  thing  after  getting  home,  with  scissors  in  hand, 
the  feathers  came  ofif  from  her  hat.  More  instances 
Hke  the  above  could  be  added,  to  which  I  have  been 
an  eye  witness. — Wesleyan  Methodist. 

Gospel  Meeting. 

They  had  a  powerful  meeting  last  night  at  the  mis- 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


sion  tabernacle  on  First  street.  Rev.  G.  B.  Howard 
preached  a  scorching  sermon ;  at  the  call  for  seekers 
about  one  hundred  went  forward  to  the  altar.  We  say 
let  the  good  work  go  on.  The  tabernacle  was  full, 
and  many  standing  on  the  outside. — Oklahoma  Daily 
Press  Gazette. 

Tabernacle  Meeting,  Little  River,  Kansas. 

Dear  Brother  Padgett: — I  want  to  drop  you  a  few 
lines  this  morning,  to  the  glory  of  God,  to  send  the 
tidings  forth,  and  let  the  echo  fly,  if  possible,  to  earth's 
remotest  bounds,  that  God  is  here  in  mighty  Pente- 
costal slaying  power.  Hallelujah  !  After  having  con- 
tended with  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  the  oppos- 
ing elements  of  earth  and  hell  for  two  weeks,  and  it 
did  not  seem  as  if  the  climax  had  been  reached,  when 
it  could  be  truly  said  and  felt  as  well,  ''This  is  your 
hour,  and  the  power  of  darkness,"  that  Jesus,  ''O  pre- 
cious name,"  the  S'Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,"  took 
the  helm,  and  is  riding  prosperously  on  under  his  olden 
time  triumph  and  victory.  O,  what  a  time  of  sol- 
emn, awful,  yet  glorious  power,  was  in  the  meeting  of 
last  night,  after  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  by  the 
workers !  God  honored  his  own  word,  while  Brother 
Howard,  the  evangelist,  touched  by  the  anointing 
power  of  the  Spirit,  preached  from  Luke  19:10,  de- 


203 


TWENTY  YEAES  OF 


daring  that  Jesus  Christ  came  to  ''Seek  and  to  save 
that  which  was  lost/'  The  Spirit  was  upon  the  con-' 
gregation.  At  the  call  for  seekers  the  long  altar  was 
filled.  Among  them  was  the  city  marshall  with  his 
wife,  two  daughters,  and  a  lady  friend.  The  whole 
audience  was  awe-stricken  as  the  slaying  power  fell 
on  some,  multitudes  of  whom  had  never  seen  anything 
after  this  fashion  before.  Three  were  slain,  one,  a  young 
lady,  lay  under  the  power  until  nearly  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  At  intervals,  the  Spirit  of  God,  sweet  as 
heaven,  midst  songs  of  praise,  fell  upon  the  few  that 
tarried.  .This  ''daughter  of  Zion"  came  through  with 
the  blessedness  of  heaven  upon  her.  With  oft  repeat- 
ed gushings  forth  from  a  full  heart  in  softened  tones, 
all  resonant  as  if  from  the  immediate  presence  chamber 
of  glory,  she  sang  praises  to  Jesus  ,  and  exclaimed, 
"Glory  to  God."  "Jesus  is  here."  All  glory  to  God 
for  this  good  work.  Tongue  or  pen,  you  know 
brother,  cannot  describe  it.  <  Let  heaven  rejoice,  and 
earth  be  glad. — Rev.  L.  Wing  in  Ambassador. 

The  Ambassador,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  His 
many  saints  scattered  abroad  over  our  great  state  of 
Texas,  extends  to  Brother  Howard  and  his  Pentecost 
workers  a  most  cordial  invitation  to  come  to  Texas  this 
fallandopenupabombardmentofthestrongholds  of  the 
Satanic  kingdom  at  Ennis  first,  then  at  other  promi- 


REYIYAL  EFFOET. 


209 


nent  places  during  the  winter.  He  preached  here 
nearly  two  years  ago,  and  stirred  the  place,  but  was 
called  away  before  his  work  was  done.  The  work  then 
begun  by  him  must  be  completed  by  him.  Many 
grateful  hearts  here  await  his  coming  again  with  glo- 
rious expectations  of  a  sweeping  victory. 

Bethel  Mission. 

Quite  a  rousing  time  was  had  at  Bethel  Mission  in 
North  Lawrence  on  Friday  from  7:30  p.  m.  to  12  p.  m., 
when  Rev.  G.  B.  Hov/ard,of  Topeka, president  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Conference,  preached  to  a  full 
house.  Mr,  Howard's  words  were  soul  stirring,  and 
ten  were  powerfully  saved.  Some  shouted,  and  one 
fell  prostrate  before  the  Lord. 

North  Lawrence  is  being  awakened  as  it  has  not 
been  for  some  time,  i  The  mission  people  are  hunting 
^out  the  poor  and  needy,  and  providing  for  their  wants 
as  they  can ;  also  carrying  the  gospel  to  them.  Some 
twenty  have  been  saved  this  year. 

They  have  meetings  every  night,  Sunday  morning 
and  afternoon,  also  Sabbath  school  at  2:30  p.  m.  Mr. 
Howard  organized  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  of 
thirty-five  members,  while  here.  Mr.  How^ard  is  an 
excellent  man  and  a  grand  preacher,  and  we  think 
North  Lawrence  will  not  forget  his  visit  soon. — Law- 
rence  Daily. 


210 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE  WILSON^,    KANSAS,  REVIVAL. 

The  revival  is  of  Divine  origin.  It  is  God's  chosen 
method  to  replenish  and  build  up  the -Church  Militant,, 
and  to  a  certain  extent,  develop  it  in  the  Christian 
graces.  It  has  been  employed  to  that  end  ever  since 
man  left  his  first  estate.  That  this  should  always  be 
its  purpose  is  the  Gospel  plan.  Its  absence  portends 
an  alarming  spiritual  dearth,  and  is  a  fruitful  cause 
for  mourning  and  lamentation.  T?wo  principle  rea- 
sons cover  its  non-appearance.  ?  First,  the  unsaved  ° 
willfully  rebelling  against  the  truth.  This  is  becoming 
more  apparent  every  year.  Herculean  efforts  are  now 
required  in  the  attempt  to  persuade  men  to  accept  sal- 
vation, whereas,  a  few  years  ago,  it  was  not  nearly 
so  hard,  j  Second,  a  lack  of  vital  spirituaHty  in  the  ' 
churches.  The  influence  and  accomplishment  of 
God's  professed  followers  are  in  direct  proportion  to 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


211 


their  possessed  spiritual  power.  Now,  since  this  is 
so,  in  all  candor  what  ought  to  be  our  attitude  toward 
our  God,  that  this  lethargy  and  hardness  of  heart  in 
our  churches  might  be  overcome?  Surely  not  of 
carelessness  and  indifference. 

These  foreign  elements,  however,  do  not  always  pre- 
dominate. When  they  do  not  a  glorious  revival  is  the 
result.  It  was  peculiarly  the  case  at  Wilson,  Kansas, 
during  the  month  of  December,  1891.  Mr.  Howard 
conducted  this  meeting  in  the  M.  E.  church.  It  was'- 
begun  on  Wednesday.  Steadily  the  meeting  increased 
in  interest  and  powder.  Deep  and  pungent  conviction 
settled  upon  the  people.  By  Sunday  it  had  become 
too  searching  to  withstand  under  the  preaching  of 
Evangelist  Howard.  In  the  afternoon  meeting 
the  break  came.  Nearly  all  seemed  to  be  seized  with 
a  strong  desire  to  see  who  could  reach  the  altar  first. 
It  was  a  spiritual  stampede  to  find  the  Lord.  Strong  ^ 
crying,  scalding  tears,  deep  agony,  and  a  fierce  strug- 
gle predominated  for  that  hour.  The  devil  saw  his 
banishment  was  near,  hence  he  contested  every  inch 
of  ground.  His  surrender  was  not  effected  until  his 
exit  was  compelled  by  a  union  of  the  human  and  the 
Divine. 

The  tide  of  salvation  did  not  cease  from  a  continua- 
tion in  the  exhilarating  experience  of  a  glorious  vie- 


212 


TVV^ENTY  YEAES  OF 


tory,  but  an  aggressive  impetuosity  was  imparted 
wlich  impelled  it  forward  at  heavenly  speed  for  nearly 
three  weeks.  During  that  period  the  work  was  neither 
superficial  nor  fanatical,  but  thorough  and  definite. 
Hence  it  was  mighty  through  God  to  the  pulHng  down 
of  the  strongholds  of  sin.  ^  A  full  and  free  salvation . 
was  proclaimed  under  the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit 
'  and  power.  This  resulted  in  people  being  freely  justi- 
fied and  fully  sanctified.  A  popular  and  an  easy  road  to 
heaven  was  not  sought,  but  the  old-fashioned  Meth- 
odistic  death  route  was  urged  till  a  radical  resurrection 
into  glory  resulted.  The  cup  of  repentance,  though 
seemingly  bitter,  was  eagerly  drank  to  its  very  dregs. 
Confession  and  restitution  were  not  neglected,  but 
many  circumstances  occurred,  which  were  very  bene- 
ficial. One  might  be  mentioned.  A  few  years  previ- 
ous to  this  a  young  man  perjured  himself  as  a  w^itness 
upon  a  case  in  court.  It  was  at  the  desire  of  his  em- 
ployer. By  so  doing  said  employer  virtually  stole  a 
good  cow  from  a  person  who  had  placed  the  animal  in 
a  herd  upon  this  man's  ranch.  During  the  meeting 
the  young  man  was  reclaimed.  It  became  evident  to 
him  under  the  Spirit's  illumination  that  a  correction 
and  restitution  must  be  made.  The  struggle  was  fierce, 
but  short.  He  settled  it  on  the  side  of  right,  and 
paid  every  penny.  This  is  in  strong  contrast  to  many 


REVIVAL  EFFORT. 


213 


who  reason  such  things  through  to  the  exclusion  of 
Divine  guidance.  Such  a  course  of  reasoning  is  al- 
ways pursued  in  favor  of  the  condemned  party.  It 
might  not  be  so  detrimental,  if  it  was  not  for  the  fact 
that  they  frequently  continue  a  profession  of  reHgion, 
and  possibly  hold  official  relation  to  the  church.  Be- 
sides the  above,  difficulties  in  the  class  were  corrected, 
crooked  acts  representing  no  more  than  a  penny  in 
value  were  rectified,  and  many  confessions  were 
made. 

These  satisfactory  results  could  not  have  been  ac- 
complished had  there  been  no. travail  of  soul  in  Zion.* 
Mothers  agonized  with  God  for  their  children,  hus- 
bands plead  for  their  wives,  the  church  importuned  the 
Lord  for  their  neighbors  and  friends,  till  the  country 
for  miles  was  mightily  aroused.  One  case,  that  of  a 
young  doctor,  is  pertinent.  His  sister  with  her  hus- 
band were  members  of  the  church.  They  had  wrestled 
for  his  salvation,  but  one  morning  at  family  prayers, 
they  reached  the  point  of  desperation.  The  contest 
became  so  fierce,  and  the  burden  so  heavy,  that  they 
lay  for  several  hours  as  one  dead  in  travail  of  soul  that 
that  brother  might  be  "born  into  Zion."  Results  were 
forthcoming.  » Such  a  load  of  conviction  overshad- 
owed him, that  he  paced  up  and  down  the  street  in  front 
of  the  church  during  times  of  service.    It  continued  to 


214 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


weigh  him  down  more  and  more  till  one  evening  he 
entered  the  church.  At  the  close  of  the  service  he 
rushed  to  the  altar  by  pressing  his  way  through  the 
large  congregation.  He  even  crawled  over  the  seats 
in  his  haste  to  reach  the  desired  goal.  It  need  not 
be  said  that  he  soon  obtained  a  clear  and  satisfactory 
experience.  Such  accomplishments  are  the  privilege 
of  the  church,  aye  more,  her  duty.  Until  she  meets 
it  a  spiritual  dearth  will  be  the  result,  and  all  the  while 
growing  worse  as  the  neglect  is  continued. 

The  numerical  amount  of  the  work  was  phenomenal, 
while  its  spiritual  parallel  superseded  all  else.  One 
hundred  and  twenty-five  were  either  saved  or  sancti- 
fied. The  church  was  greatly  helped  in  numbers,  and 
interest,  financially  and  spiritually.  No  difficulty  was 
now  encountered  in  securing  congregations.  It  was 
room  that  was  lacking.  This  evidences  that  the  sue-  \ 
cessful  preaching  of  holiness  is  the  drawing  power  of  y 
the  gospel. 

The  extent  of  this  meeting  was  not  compassed  by  a 
small  radius,  but  reached  for  miles  around.  The 
country  was  so  stirred  it  was  impossible  to  restrain 
the  people  from  attendance.  The  meeting  did  not  end 
with  a  merely  nominal  interest,  but  was  noted  for  deep 
spiritual  experiences  obtained.  People  were  saved 
from  all  kinds  of  sin  such  as  impure  lives,  dishonest 


REYIYAL  EFFORT. 


215 


practices,  worldly  conformity,  etc.  Restitution  was 
made ;  a  holy  zeal  was  begotten  by  the  Spirit's  obtain- 
ment,  that  caused  the  people  to  be  extraordinarily 
active ;  pride  was  killed,  till  gold,  flowers  and  feathers ; 
and,  in  fact,  all  kinds  of  superfluous  ornaments, 
whether  of  dress,  or  otherwise,  were  thrown  to  the 
moles  and  the  bats.  Men  came  out  from  worldly  so- 
cieties and  secret  organizations.  Signs  of  all  kinds  of 
worldly-conformity  and  formality  were  destroyed, 
while  the  blood-stained  banner  of  King  Immanuel  was 
raised  high. 

The  meeting  was  voted  a  glorious  success  in  that  it 
was  far-reaching  and  lasting.  From  it  four  young 
men  were  called  into  the  gospel  ministry.  Soon  af- 
ter a  very  spiritual  Vv^esleyan  Methodist  class  was  or- 
ganized, and  a  neat  church  building  erected.  These 
results  did  not  terminate  with  the  close  of  the  revival, 
but  will  continue  and  become  more  glorious,  till  its  ac- 
complishments cease  to  effect  and  influence  the  lives 
of  succeeding  generations,  which  cannot  be,  until  time 
is  declared  to  be  no  more,^  and  the  last  trump  is 
sounded  calling  humanity  forth  to  a  glorified  resur- 
rection, and  to  their  final  reward. 

In  conclusion  I  wish  to  give  a  short  account  of  my 
experience  as  then  obtained.  I  was  first  converted 
at  fifteen  years  of  age.    Through    lack    of  interest 


216 


TWENTY  YEARS  OF 


manifest  by  the  church,  and  being  much  in  contact 
with  the  worldly  and  the  sinful,  my  gospel  armor  was 
put  aside,  and  I  became  a  backslidden  church  member. 
This  state  was  endured  by  me  for  five  or  six  years, 
during  which  time  I  kept  up  a  profession,  and  retained 
formal  connection  with  the  church.  My  post  of  duty 
was  never  vacant  if  it  were  possible  for  me  to  be  there. 
Any  church  work  devolving  upon  me  was  cheerfully 
performed.  Activity  was  a  delight,  accomplishment 
a  determination,  and  success  the  ambition  of  my 
heart,  in  whatever  relation  I  sustained  to  the  church. 
It  continued  thus,  till  the  beginning  "of  the  above  de- 
scribed meeting.  It  seemed  God  was  after  me  from 
the  first.  What  it  all  meant  seemed  very  indistinct  in 
the  dim  vista  of  the  future.  By  Sunday  (as  referred 
to  above)  it  all  became  apparent,  for  my  load  of  convic- ' 
tion  had  so  increased, and  the  disturbings  of  my  consci- 
ence so  augmented,  that  it  seemed  impossible  for  me 
to  endure  it  any  longer.  During  the  service  that  af- 
ternoon I  thought  I  was  falling  into  the  dark  abyss  of 
hell.  When  the  altar  call  was  given,  I  was  among 
the  first  in  that  grand  charge.  What  agony  my 
whole  being  was  in ;  what  scalding  tears  I  shed ;  what 
unearthly  groans  and  cries  I  uttered,  cannot  be  ex- 
pressed in  words.  The  sulphurous  flames  of  the  lower 
world  seemed  to  encircle  me,  and  burn  my  very  life 


EEVIVAL  EFFORT. 


217 


away.  Pleading  with  God  brought  no  reHef.  Some- 
thing else  had  to  be  done  first.  Two  or  three  days 
passed  before  I  found  what  was  necessary,  or  rather 
before  I  reached  the  point  where  the  Lord  could  con- 
verse with  me.  The  first  thing  he  revealed  was  to 
throw  away  a  gold  ring  I  was  wearing.  Though 
blessed  for  this  no  permanent  relief  came.  The  next 
thing  discovered  was  to  make  a  confession  to  a  party 
who  felt  aggrieved.  Having  done  this  my  heart  be- 
came very  light.  This  was  sufficient  evidence  to  me 
that  the  point  of  surrender  had  been  reached.  That 
night  I  went  to  the  church  prepared  to  intelligently  ^ 
seek  the  salvation  of  my  soul.  Before  this  it  was  dif- 
ficult to  pray,  or  to  reach  any  required  degree  of  earn- 
estness ;  and  it  seemed  impossible  to  have  faith  in 
God.  No  impediments  were  now  encountered.  It 
was  easy  to  pray,  while  the  earnestness  of  my  heart  ' 
was  so  great  that  I  broke  forth  into  intense  importunity 
✓  for  God  to  give  me  my  heart's  desire.  Faith  acted  in- 
voluntarily upon  the  foundation  laid,  and  in  an  instant 
loud  hallelujahs  broke  forth  from  my  soul.  My  sensi- 
bilities gave  vent  to  the  pent  up  feelings  within  by  prais- 
ing and  lauding  the  name  of  my  precious  Lord  and  Sa- 
vior. The  Light  of  the  world  shined  so  intensely  upon 
my  soul,  that  all  material  lights  were  so  eclipsed  by  this 
supernatural  illumination,  that  I  felt  I  was  in  the  im- 


218  TWENTY  OF 

mediate  presence  of  the  vSim  of  Righteousness.  Such 
a  sweet,  blessed,  satisfactory  sensation  permeated  my 
whole  being,  I  felt  I  never  could  doubt  the  Lord. 
Since  then  my  zeal  has  not  weakened ;  my  ardor  not 
cooled ;  my  determination  not  waned ;  but  the  way  has 
become  much  brighter  ;duty  much  lighter,and  his  pres- 
ence much  richer,  for  which  all  praise  and  all  glory 
with  due  adoration  I  render  unto  our  ever  blessed 
Lord  and  King. 

Your  brother  in  the  bonds  of  holiness, 

A.  P.  Lienard. 

Easton,  Kansas,  October  24,  1898. 


\ 


